One interesting study is called, ‘Physiological changes in asbestos pleural disease’ by Lumley KP – Inhaled Part. 1975 Sep;4 Pt 2:781-8. Here is an excerpt: ‘Abstract – This paper reports the findings of a study of lung function at rest and during progressive sub-maximal exercise in a group of men with varying degrees of asbestos-related pleural abnormality. The results show that pulmonary fibrosis is accompanied by more adverse functional change than pleural abnormality, diffuse pleural thickening is associated with more functional abnormality than non-calcified pleural plaques, and pleural calcification is not associated with significant functional defects. The relationship between lung function and asbestos exposure in this selected group is discussed. It is also suggested that VE1-0 is as useful an index of the ventilatory cost of exercise as VE1.5.’
Another study is called, ‘Asbestos Body Content of the Larynx in Asbestos Workers A Study of Five Cases’ by Victor L. Roggli, MD; S. Donald Greenberg, MD; Jerry L. McLarty, PhD; George A. Hurst, MD; Charles G. Spivey, MD; Leroy R. Hieger, MD – Arch Otolaryngol. 980;106(9):533-535. Here is an excerpt: ‘Abstract – Occupational exposure to asbestos has been epidemiologically associated with carcinoma of the larynx; however, no search for or quantitation of laryngeal asbestos bodies has been performed. This report concerns an autopsy study of five patients with occupational asbestos exposure and proven asbestos-associated pulmonary disease in whom histologic sections of the larynx were examined and a digestion-concentration technique was used to isolate and quantitate the asbestos bodies in the remaining laryngeal tissues. No dysplastic epithelial changes were present in the mucosa. Asbestos bodies were recovered from two of the five larynges but from none of ten larynges obtained from autopsy controls.’
Another study is called, ‘Levels of 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine in DNA of white blood cells from workers highly exposed to asbestos in Germany’ by X. Baura – Mutation Research/Genetic Toxicology and Environmental Mutagenesis Volume 468, Issue 2, 10 July 2000, Pages 195-202. Here is an excerpt: ‘Abstract – Asbestos fibers have genotoxic effects and are a potential carcinogenic hazard to occupationally exposed workers. The ability of inhaled asbestos fibers to induce the formation of 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) in the DNA of white blood cells (WBC) of workers highly exposed at the workplace has been studied. The 8-OHdG adduct level of asbestos-exposed workers was significantly increased (p%26lt;0.001) compared to that in the control group in all three years of the study. Asbestos-exposed individuals showed a mean value of 2.61±0.91 8-OHdG/105 dG (median 2.49, n=496) in 1994-1995, 2.96±1.10 8-OHdG/105 dG (median 2.76, n=437) in 1995–1996 and 2.55±0.56 8-OHdG/105 dG (median 2.53, n=447) in 1996–1997. For the control subjects, a mean of 1.52±0.39 (median 1.51, n=214) was determined. The results indicate that human DNA samples from exposed individuals contain between 1.7 times and twice the level of oxidative damage relative to that found in control samples in all 3 years of the study. The studies presented here show that asbestos exposure can result in oxidative DNA damage. Our data confirm that oxidative DNA damage occurs in the WBC of workers highly exposed to asbestos fibers, thus supporting the hypothesis that asbestos fibers damage cells through an oxidative mechanism. These in vivo findings underline the importance of oxidative damage in asbestos-induced carcinogenesis and highlight the need for exploring the molecular basis of asbestos-induced diseases, and for more effective diagnosis, prevention and therapy of mesothelioma, lung cancer and pulmonary fibrosis. In addition, preventive and therapeutic approaches using antioxidants may be relevant.’
Another study is called, ‘Peritoneal cancer and occupational exposure to asbestos: Results from the application of a job-exposure matrix’ – American Journal of Industrial Medicine – Volume 35, issue 1, pages 9-14, January 1999 by Pierluigi Cocco MD, Mustafa Dosemeci PhD. Here is an excerpt: ‘Abstract – Background – Because of the rarity of peritoneal mesothelioma, occupational risks associated with it have seldom been studied, particularly among women. In this respect, death certificates databases may provide numbers large enough for analysis, although the International Classification of Diseases, 9th revision (ICD-9) does not single out mesothelioma from the rest of peritoneal cancers. The aim of this paper is twofold: to explore occupational risks of peritoneal cancer among men and women, and to test the performance of a job-exposure matrix in detecting its association with asbestos exposure using the occupation and industry reported in the death certificate. Methods – From a large database containing information on the 1984–1992 death certificates of 24 U.S. states, we identified 657 deaths from peritoneal cancer and 6,570 controls who died from non-malignant diseases, 1:10 matched by region, gender, race, and 5-year age group. Results – Occupations at risk included insulators among men, and machine operators among women. Among men, we found a significant increase in risk associated with employment in manufacturing industries, such as industrial and miscellaneous chemicals; miscellaneous non-metallic mineral and stone products; construction and material handling machines; and electrical machinery, equipment, and supplies; as well as in services to dwellings and other buildings. Industries at increased risk among women included elementary and secondary schools; miscellaneous retail stores; and publishing and printing. Our job-exposure matrix classified 17 male cases and 3 controls in the high probability category of exposure to asbestos (OR = 61.6). Among men, risk of peritoneal cancer increased significantly by probability and intensity of exposure to asbestos. No such pattern was observed among women. The job-exposure matrix did not classify any female subjects in the high probability or intensity of asbestos exposure.’
If you found any of these excerpts interesting, please read the studies in their entirety. We all owe a debt of gratitude to these fine researchers.
Monty Wrobleski is the author of this article, for more information please visit the following links:
Posted in 
