Premature Death of Workers Caused by Asbestos Exposure and Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer where malignant cells are found in the protective sacs that covers the body's internal organs.  This sac is called the mesothelium. One interesting study that examines the disease is called, "Asbestos fibers in bronchoalveolar lavage and lung tissue of former asbestos workers" by H. Teschler, K.H. Friedrichs, G.B. Hoheisel, G. Wick, U. Soltner, A.B. Thompson, N. Konietzko and U. Costabel - Ruhrlandklinik, Department of Allergy, University of Essen, Germany - Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., Vol 149, No. 3, Mar 1994, 641-645.   Here is an excerpt: "Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) provides a simple method of sampling inhaled particles deposited in the lower respiratory tract. We hypothesized that BAL could be used to measure the quantity and quality of lung asbestos burden. This would be true if BAL fluid asbestos fiber content reflected the total content as well as the size distribution of both uncoated and coated asbestos fibers in lung parenchyma. Therefore, we analyzed the asbestos fiber counts of 23 individual sample pairs in both BAL fluid and lung tissue samples obtained from 20 patients with occupational asbestos exposure using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). In addition, fiber type, fiber size, and aspect ratio were compared. Coated asbestos fibers were found in 10 of 23 BAL samples and 16 of 23 biopsies. The mean concentrations of coated asbestos fibers (i.e., asbestos bodies) in BAL and lung parenchyma showed a positive correlation (r = 0.75, p < 0.001). Likewise, the mean amphibole fiber concentrations correlated positively (r = 0.55, p < 0.01). However, there was no relationship between the mean chrysotile fiber counts in BAL and lung parenchyma (r = 0.18, p = 0.40). Asbestos fibers in lung tissue were significantly longer (8.2 +/- 0.5 versus 4.8 +/- 0.6 microns; p < 0.001) but had the same width (0.12 +/- 0.27 versus 0.11 +/- 0.15 microns; p = 0.24) when compared with those retrieved by BAL from the airspace compartment. The aspect ratio (dividing fiber length by width) was much higher in lung tissue than in BAL fluid (66.4 +/- 0.4 versus 42.9 +/- 0.5; p < 0.001)"

A second study is called, "Disability compensation for asbestos associated disease in the United States." By Selikoff, IJ - NTIS, SPRINGFIELD, VA. 1982.  Here is an excerpt: "The reports describes and analyzes disability compensation experiences resulting from occupational disease caused by asbestos exposure. Six major issues are stressed: (1) Clinical and epidemiological information reviewing the relation of asbestos exposure to human disease; (2) Estimates of the number of workers who were exposed to asbestos in relation to their work 1940-1980, and the proportion who may be expected to develop occupational asbestos disease in associated disease: (3) Criteria for the diagnosis of asbestos-associated disease; (4) Adequacy of workers' compensation and other types of public and private compensation programs in providing income benefits to those who suffer occupational asbestos disease; (5) Tort litigation against manufacturers of asbestos products; (6) Economic costs to society and to workers and their kin resulting from disability and premature death of workers caused by asbestosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma and other cancers attributable to occupational exposure to asbestos."

A third study is called, "Asbestos Exposure - Cigarette Smoking Interactions Among Shipyard Workers" by Paul D. Blanc, MD, MSPH; Jeffrey A. Golden, MD; Gordon Gamsu, MD; Denise R. Aberle, MD; Warren M. Gold, MD - JAMA. 1988;259(3):370-373.  Here is an excerpt: "Abstract - We studied the roentgenograms, pulmonary function tests, and physical findings of 294 shipyard workers to evaluate asbestos exposure—cigarette smoking interactions. Roentgenographic parenchymal opacities, decreased pulmonary diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide, decreased flow at low lung volume, rales, and clubbing were each significantly related to the number of years elapsed since first exposure to asbestos and cigarette smoking status when analyzed by logistic regression. A dose-dependent cigarette smoking response that was consistent with synergism was present only for parenchymal opacities and decreased flow at low lung volume. These findings suggest that decreased flow at low lung volume, possibly reflecting peribronchiolar fibrosis, may be a functional corollary to smoking-associated parenchymal roentgenographic opacities among some asbestos-exposed individuals."

If you found any of these studies interesting, please read them in their entirety.  We all owe a great deal of thanks to the people who are researching these important issues.