Pulmonary Carcinoid Tumors and Asbestos Exposure

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Bénédicte Clin1,2,*, Pascal Andujar1,3,4, Issam Abd Al Samad5, Chantal Azpitarte6, FranÇoise Le Pimpec-Barthes7, Marie-Annick Billon-Galland8, Claire Danel9, FranÇoise Galateau-Salle10, Bruno Housset1,3,4, Karinne Legrand-Cattan11, Mireille Matrat1,3,4, Isabelle Monnet4, Marc Riquet7 and Jean-Claude Pairon1,3,4

1Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, U955, Equipe 4, Créteil 94000, France

2Service de Santé au Travail et Pathologie Professionnelle, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Caen, Caen 14000, France

3Faculté de Médecine, Université Paris Est, Créteil 94000, France

4Service de Pneumologie et de Pathologie Professionnelle, Centre Hospitalier Intercommunal de Créteil, Créteil 94000, France

5Service d’Anatomie Pathologique, Centre Hospitalier Intercommunal de Créteil, Créteil 94000, France

6Service de Santé au Travail, Société Nationale des Chemins de Fer Français, Paris 75010, France

7Service de Chirurgie Thoracique, Assistance Publique -Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpital Européen Georges Pompidou, Paris 75015, France

8Laboratoire d’Etude des Particules Inhalées de la Ville de Paris, Laboratoire d'Etude des Particules Inhalées de la Ville de Paris, Paris 75013, France

9Assistance Publique -Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpital Bichat-Claude Bernard, Paris 75018, France

10Service d’Anatomie Pathologique, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Caen, Caen 14000, France

11Service de Santé au Travail, Pôle Santé Travail, Lille 59000, France ?* Author to whom correspondence should be addressed. Tel: +33-2-31-06-54-65; Fax: +33-2-31-06-49-14; e-mail: clin-b{at}chu-caen.fr Received November 10, 2011. Accepted February 14, 2012. Objectives: The hypothesis that asbestos exposure may have more specific associations with particular histological types of lung cancer remains controversial. The aim of this study was to analyze the relationships between asbestos exposure and pulmonary carcinoid tumors.

Methods: A retrospective case–control study was conducted in 28 cases undergoing surgery for pulmonary carcinoid tumors and aged >40 years and in 56 controls with lung cancer of a different histological type, matched for gender and age, from 1994 to 1999, recruited in two hospitals in the region of Paris. Asbestos exposure was assessed via expertise of a standardized occupational questionnaire and mineralogical analysis of lung tissue, with quantification of asbestos bodies (AB). Results: Definite asbestos exposure was identified in 25% of cases and 14% of controls (ns). Cumulative asbestos exposure was significantly higher in cases than in controls (P < 0.05), and results of the quantification of AB tended to be higher in cases than in controls (24 and 9% had >1000 AB per gram dry lung tissue, respectively, P = 0.09). Mean cumulative smoking was lower in cases than in controls (P < 0.05). Conclusions: This study argues in favor of a relationship between asbestos exposure and certain pulmonary carcinoid tumors. © The Author 2012. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the British Occupational Hygiene SocietyThis ArticleAnn Occup Hyg (2012) 56 (7): 789-795. doi: 10.1093/annhyg/mes017 First published online: May 4, 2012 PubMed citationArticles by Clin, B.Articles by Andujar, P.Articles by Abd Al Samad, I.Articles by Azpitarte, C.Articles by Le Pimpec-Barthes, F.Articles by Billon-Galland, M. A.Articles by Danel, C.Articles by Galateau-Salle, F.Articles by Housset, B.Articles by Legrand-Cattan, K.Articles by Matrat, M.Articles by Monnet, I.Articles by Riquet, M.Articles by Pairon, J. C.Current Issue
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Airborne Concentrations of Chrysotile Asbestos in Serpentine Quarries and Stone Processing Facilities in Valmalenco, Italy

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Andrea Cattaneo1,*, Anna Somigliana2, Mauro Gemmi3, Ferruccio Bernabeo4, Domenico Savoca5, Domenico M. Cavallo6 and Pier A. Bertazzi1,7

1Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy

2Environmental Protection Agency of Lombardy Region (ARPA), Milan, Italy

3Department of Earth Sciences ‘Ardito Desio’, Università degli Studi di Milano, I-20133 Milano, Italy

4Occupational Health Unit, Hospital of Lecco, I-23900 Lecco, Italy

5Direzione Generale Qualità dell’Ambiente, Lombardy Region, I-20124 Milano, Italy

6Department of Science and High Technology, Università degli Studi dell’Insubria, I-22100 Como, Italy

7Unit of Epidemiology, Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda–Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, I-20122 Milano, Italy ?* Author to whom correspondence should be addressed. Tel: +39-0250320147; fax: +39-0250320111; e-mail: andrea.cattaneo{at}unimi.it Received June 8, 2011. Accepted November 17, 2011. Asbestos may be naturally present in rocks and soils. In some cases, there is the possibility of releasing asbestos fibres into the atmosphere from the rock or soil, subsequently exposing workers and the general population, which can lead to an increased risk of developing asbestos-related diseases. In the present study, air contaminated with asbestos fibres released from serpentinites was investigated in occupational settings (quarries and processing factories) and in the environment close to working facilities and at urban sites. The only naturally occurrence of asbestos found in Valmalenco area was chrysotile; amphibole fibres were never detected. An experimental cut-off diameter of 0.25 µm was established for distinguishing between Valmalenco chrysotile and antigorite single fibres using selected area electron diffraction analyses. Air contamination from chrysotile fibres in the examined occupational settings was site-dependent as the degree of asbestos contamination of Valmalenco serpentinites is highly variable from place to place. Block cutting of massive serpentinites with multiple blades or discs and drilling at the quarry sites that had the highest levels of asbestos contamination generated the highest exposures to (i.e. over the occupational exposure limits) asbestos. Conversely, working activities on foliated serpentinites produced airborne chrysotile concentrations comparable with ambient levels. Environmental chrysotile concentrations were always below the Italian limit for life environments (0.002 f ml-1), except for one sample collected at a quarry property boundary. The present exposure assessment study should encourage the development of an effective and concordant policy for proper use of asbestos-bearing rocks and soils as well as for the protection of public health.

© The Author 2012. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the British Occupational Hygiene SocietyThis ArticleAnn Occup Hyg (2012) 56 (6): 671-683. doi: 10.1093/annhyg/mer119 First published online: January 2, 2012 Current Issue
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Pulmonary Carcinoid Tumors and Asbestos Exposure

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Bénédicte Clin1,2,*, Pascal Andujar1,3,4, Issam Abd Al Samad5, Chantal Azpitarte6, FranÇoise Le Pimpec-Barthes7, Marie-Annick Billon-Galland8, Claire Danel9, FranÇoise Galateau-Salle10, Bruno Housset1,3,4, Karinne Legrand-Cattan11, Mireille Matrat1,3,4, Isabelle Monnet4, Marc Riquet7 and Jean-Claude Pairon1,3,4

1Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, U955, Equipe 4, Créteil 94000, France

2Service de Santé au Travail et Pathologie Professionnelle, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Caen, Caen 14000, France

3Faculté de Médecine, Université Paris Est, Créteil 94000, France

4Service de Pneumologie et de Pathologie Professionnelle, Centre Hospitalier Intercommunal de Créteil, Créteil 94000, France

5Service d’Anatomie Pathologique, Centre Hospitalier Intercommunal de Créteil, Créteil 94000, France

6Service de Santé au Travail, Société Nationale des Chemins de Fer Français, Paris 75010, France

7Service de Chirurgie Thoracique, Assistance Publique -Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpital Européen Georges Pompidou, Paris 75015, France

8Laboratoire d’Etude des Particules Inhalées de la Ville de Paris, Laboratoire d'Etude des Particules Inhalées de la Ville de Paris, Paris 75013, France

9Assistance Publique -Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpital Bichat-Claude Bernard, Paris 75018, France

10Service d’Anatomie Pathologique, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Caen, Caen 14000, France

11Service de Santé au Travail, Pôle Santé Travail, Lille 59000, France ?* Author to whom correspondence should be addressed. Tel: +33-2-31-06-54-65; Fax: +33-2-31-06-49-14; e-mail: clin-b{at}chu-caen.fr Received November 10, 2011. Accepted February 14, 2012. Objectives: The hypothesis that asbestos exposure may have more specific associations with particular histological types of lung cancer remains controversial. The aim of this study was to analyze the relationships between asbestos exposure and pulmonary carcinoid tumors.

Methods: A retrospective case–control study was conducted in 28 cases undergoing surgery for pulmonary carcinoid tumors and aged >40 years and in 56 controls with lung cancer of a different histological type, matched for gender and age, from 1994 to 1999, recruited in two hospitals in the region of Paris. Asbestos exposure was assessed via expertise of a standardized occupational questionnaire and mineralogical analysis of lung tissue, with quantification of asbestos bodies (AB). Results: Definite asbestos exposure was identified in 25% of cases and 14% of controls (ns). Cumulative asbestos exposure was significantly higher in cases than in controls (P < 0.05), and results of the quantification of AB tended to be higher in cases than in controls (24 and 9% had >1000 AB per gram dry lung tissue, respectively, P = 0.09). Mean cumulative smoking was lower in cases than in controls (P < 0.05). Conclusions: This study argues in favor of a relationship between asbestos exposure and certain pulmonary carcinoid tumors. © The Author 2012. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the British Occupational Hygiene SocietyThis ArticleAnn Occup Hyg (2012) 56 (7): 789-795. doi: 10.1093/annhyg/mes017 First published online: May 4, 2012 PubMed citationArticles by Clin, B.Articles by Andujar, P.Articles by Abd Al Samad, I.Articles by Azpitarte, C.Articles by Le Pimpec-Barthes, F.Articles by Billon-Galland, M. A.Articles by Danel, C.Articles by Galateau-Salle, F.Articles by Housset, B.Articles by Legrand-Cattan, K.Articles by Matrat, M.Articles by Monnet, I.Articles by Riquet, M.Articles by Pairon, J. C.Current Issue
Disclaimer: Please note that abstracts for content published before 1996 were created through digital scanning and may therefore not exactly replicate the text of the original print issues. All efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, but the Publisher will not be held responsible for any remaining inaccuracies. If you require any further clarification, please contact our Customer Services Department.

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An Inter-Laboratory Study to Determine the Effectiveness of Procedures for Discriminating Amphibole Asbestos Fibers from Amphibole Cleavage Fragments in Fiber Counting by Phase-Contrast Microscopy

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Asbestos Fibre Burden in the Lungs of Patients with Mesothelioma Who Lived Near Asbestos-Cement Factories

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Pietro Gino Barbieri1,*, Dario Mirabelli2, Anna Somigliana3, Domenica Cavone4 and Enzo Merler5

1Mesothelioma Registry, Occupational Health Unit, Local Health Authority, 25128 Brescia, Italy

2Unit of Cancer Epidemiology, University of Turin and CPO-Piemonte, 10126 Turin, Italy

3Centre of Electron Microscopy, Lombardy Environmental Protection Agency (ARPA), 20129 Milan, Italy

4Apulia Mesothelioma Registry, Occupational Health Section B. Ramazzini, Department of Internal Medicine and Public Health, University of , Bari, 70121 Bari, Italy

5Venetian Mesothelioma Registry, Occupational Health Unit, Local Health Authority, 35121 Padua, Italy ?* Author to whom correspondence should be addressed. Tel: +39 030 3838677; fax: +39 030 3838540; e-mail: pietro.barbieri{at}aslbrescia.it Received December 8, 2010. Accepted December 2, 2011. Background Epidemics of malignant mesothelioma are occurring among inhabitants of Casale Monferrato and Bari never employed in the local asbestos-cement (AC) factories. The mesothelioma risk increased with proximity of residence to both plants.

Objectives To provide information on the intensity of environmental asbestos exposure, in the general population living around these factories, through the evaluation of the lung fibre burden in mesothelioma patients. Methods We analysed by a scanning electron microscope equipped with X-ray microanalysis wet (formalin-fixed) lung tissue samples from eight mesothelioma patients who lived in Casale Monferrato or Bari and underwent surgery. Their occupational and residential history was obtained during face-to-face interviews. Semi-quantitative and quantitative indices of cumulative environmental exposure to asbestos were computed, based on residential distance from the AC plants and duration of stay. Results The lung fibre burden ranged from 110?000 to 4?300?000 fibres per gram of dry lung (f/g) and was >1?000?000 f/g in three subjects. In four cases, only amphibole fibres were detected. Environmental exposures had ceased at least 10 years before samples were taken. No patient had other definite or probable asbestos exposures. A linear relationship was observed between the lung fibre burden and all three indices of environmental cumulative exposure to asbestos. Conclusions Environmental exposure to a mixture of asbestos fibres may lead to a high lung fibre burden of amphiboles years after exposure cessation. The epidemiological evidence of an increased mesothelioma risk for the general population of Casale Monferrato and Bari, associated with asbestos contamination of the living environment, is corroborated. © The Author 2012. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the British Occupational Hygiene SocietyThis ArticleAnn Occup Hyg (2012) 56 (6): 660-670. doi: 10.1093/annhyg/mer126 First published online: January 12, 2012 Current Issue
Disclaimer: Please note that abstracts for content published before 1996 were created through digital scanning and may therefore not exactly replicate the text of the original print issues. All efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, but the Publisher will not be held responsible for any remaining inaccuracies. If you require any further clarification, please contact our Customer Services Department.

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Asbestos Fibre Burden in the Lungs of Patients with Mesothelioma Who Lived Near Asbestos-Cement Factories

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Pietro Gino Barbieri1,*, Dario Mirabelli2, Anna Somigliana3, Domenica Cavone4 and Enzo Merler5

1Mesothelioma Registry, Occupational Health Unit, Local Health Authority, 25128 Brescia, Italy

2Unit of Cancer Epidemiology, University of Turin and CPO-Piemonte, 10126 Turin, Italy

3Centre of Electron Microscopy, Lombardy Environmental Protection Agency (ARPA), 20129 Milan, Italy

4Apulia Mesothelioma Registry, Occupational Health Section B. Ramazzini, Department of Internal Medicine and Public Health, University of , Bari, 70121 Bari, Italy

5Venetian Mesothelioma Registry, Occupational Health Unit, Local Health Authority, 35121 Padua, Italy ?* Author to whom correspondence should be addressed. Tel: +39 030 3838677; fax: +39 030 3838540; e-mail: pietro.barbieri{at}aslbrescia.it Received December 8, 2010. Accepted December 2, 2011. Background Epidemics of malignant mesothelioma are occurring among inhabitants of Casale Monferrato and Bari never employed in the local asbestos-cement (AC) factories. The mesothelioma risk increased with proximity of residence to both plants.

Objectives To provide information on the intensity of environmental asbestos exposure, in the general population living around these factories, through the evaluation of the lung fibre burden in mesothelioma patients. Methods We analysed by a scanning electron microscope equipped with X-ray microanalysis wet (formalin-fixed) lung tissue samples from eight mesothelioma patients who lived in Casale Monferrato or Bari and underwent surgery. Their occupational and residential history was obtained during face-to-face interviews. Semi-quantitative and quantitative indices of cumulative environmental exposure to asbestos were computed, based on residential distance from the AC plants and duration of stay. Results The lung fibre burden ranged from 110?000 to 4?300?000 fibres per gram of dry lung (f/g) and was >1?000?000 f/g in three subjects. In four cases, only amphibole fibres were detected. Environmental exposures had ceased at least 10 years before samples were taken. No patient had other definite or probable asbestos exposures. A linear relationship was observed between the lung fibre burden and all three indices of environmental cumulative exposure to asbestos. Conclusions Environmental exposure to a mixture of asbestos fibres may lead to a high lung fibre burden of amphiboles years after exposure cessation. The epidemiological evidence of an increased mesothelioma risk for the general population of Casale Monferrato and Bari, associated with asbestos contamination of the living environment, is corroborated. © The Author 2012. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the British Occupational Hygiene SocietyThis ArticleAnn Occup Hyg (2012) 56 (6): 660-670. doi: 10.1093/annhyg/mer126 First published online: January 12, 2012 Current Issue
Disclaimer: Please note that abstracts for content published before 1996 were created through digital scanning and may therefore not exactly replicate the text of the original print issues. All efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, but the Publisher will not be held responsible for any remaining inaccuracies. If you require any further clarification, please contact our Customer Services Department.

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