The asbestos fibre burden in human lungs: new insights into the chrysotile debate.
Eur Respir J
; 49(6)2017 06.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-28663314
ABSTRACT
The traceability of asbestos fibres in human lungs is a matter of discussion especially for chrysotile. This issue is of high significance for differential diagnosis, risk assessment and occupational compensation. At present no intra-individual longitudinal information is available. This study addresses the question whether the asbestos fibre burden in human lungs decreases with time after exposure cessation.The database of the German Mesothelioma Register was screened for patients with asbestos body counts of at least 500 fibres per gram of wet lung, which had been analysed twice from different tissue excisions at minimum intervals of 4â
years.Twelve datasets with individual longitudinal information were discovered with a median interval of about 8â
years (range 4-21 years). Both examinations were performed after exposure cessation (median surgery, 9.5 years; autopsy, 22 years). Pulmonary asbestos fibre burden was stable between both examinations (median 1623/4269 asbestos bodies per gram wet lung). Electron microscopy demonstrated a preponderance of chrysotile (median 80%).This study is the first to present longitudinal intra-individual data about the asbestos fibre burden in living human lungs. The high biopersistence of amphiboles, but also of chrysotile, offers mechanistic explanations for fibre toxicity, especially the long latency period of asbestos-related diseases.
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Exposição Ocupacional
/
Asbestos Serpentinas
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Neoplasias Pulmonares
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Mesotelioma
Tipo de estudo:
Observational_studies
/
Risk_factors_studies
Limite:
Aged
/
Aged80
/
Humans
/
Male
/
Middle aged
País/Região como assunto:
Europa
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Eur Respir J
Ano de publicação:
2017
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de afiliação:
Alemanha