Asbestos Breaks and Fragments can Cause Mesothelioma Disease

Exposure to hazardous asbestos material can lead to some deadly diseases.  When asbestos fibers are broken or fragmented into tiny pieces they can be inhaled or swallowed and attack the body.  One interesting study is called, "Genetic effects of crocidolite asbestos in Chinese hamster lung cells" by S. L. Huang, D. Saggioro, H. Michelmann and H. V. Malling-  Mutation Research/Fundamental and Molecular Mechanisms of Mutagenesis Volume 57, Issue 2, 1978, Pages 225-232.  Here is an excerpt: "Abstract - Chinese hamster lung cells cultured in the presence of crocidolite asbestos displayed inhibition of cell growth. Cell death was directly associated with the phagocytosis of larger fibres as observed with the aid of trypan blue. Watersoluble components of crocidolite did not appear to inhibit cell growth. Chromosomal aberrations were induced by the asbestos. The aberrations were confined mainly to structural aberrations — breaks and fragments. Electron-microscopic preparation indicated that asbestos was readily contained in phagosomes. Phagocytosed asbestos appeared to be a weak mutagen in its ability to induce gene mutation at the hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyl transferase locus."

Another interesting study is called, "Mortality of a Cohort Exposed To Chrysotile Asbestos" by Weiss, William M.D. - Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine: November 1977 - Volume 19 - Issue 11.  Here is an excerpt: "Abstract - A 30-year historical cohort mortality study was made of 264 men hired during 1935-45 who worked in a chrysotile asbestos products factory for one year or more and were alive January 1, 1945. Follow-up was 94% complete. The overall standardized mortality ratio (SMR) was only 0.61 while the SMR for all cancers was 0.75, for lung cancer 0.93, and for gastrointestinal cancer 1.05. Two men died of asbestosis. The overall SMR was higher for men who worked five years or more than for men who worked one to four years but the 30-year mortality rates were the same after age adjustment. For asbestos-related diseases the differences in work duration had no effect on mortality. The data show a favorable mortality experience for men exposed to chrysotile alone."

Another interesting study is called, "Asbestos bodies in bronchoalveolar lavage reflect lung asbestos body concentration" by P De Vuyst, P Dumortier, E Moulin, N Yourassowsky, P Roomans, P de Francquen, and JC Yernault - Eur Respir J 1988; 1:362-367.  Here is an excerpt: "Asbestos body (AB) countings on both bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluids and digested lung tissue samples were performed in one hundred consecutive subjects submitted to a thoracotomy procedure, mostly for lung carcinoma. A good correlation (r = 0.73) was found between the two groups of values for the total group of subjects. When restrictive selection criteria were taken into account, such as lavage homolateral to the analysed lung, performed by the same trained physician, this correlation improved (r = 0.82). Absence of AB's or low AB counts (less than 1 AB/ml) in BAL corresponded in about 70% of cases to concentrations of less than 1,000 AB/gm and in 100% of cases to concentrations less than 10,000 AB/gm. In subjects with BAL containing more than 1 AB/ml, the lung tissues of 85% contained more than 1,000 AB/gm and the tissues of 44% contained more than 10,000 AB/gm. Above 10 AB/ml BAL, all lung tissues contained more than 10,000 AB/gm. Since lung tissue is not readily available in patients undergoing assessment of their asbestos exposure, BAL fluid analysis seems to be a useful tool to evaluate lung AB concentrations. This technique cannot be performed, however, in patients with severe lung impairment which does not allow sufficient recovery of BAL fluid."

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