| A spatial cluster of pleural mesothelioma cases was detected in
Broni, in the Province of Pavia (northwestern Italy). Eighteen
deaths due to malignant pleural neoplasms were observed in the years
1980-87 (SMR: 556; 95% confidence interval:
329-878) and the incidence of pleural mesothelioma in 1980-89 was 9.1
cases per 100,000 person-years among men and 4.3
cases among women. These findings are discussed with reference to the
presence in Broni of a plant manufacturing asbestos
cement products.
_____________________________________________________________ |
| Mr. Bichard finds it hard to contain his anger over his medical problems
and those of colleagues who are dead or are suffering from lung cancer,
brain tumours, or mesothelioma, a rare cancer of the lung lining. |
| Ralls statement that countervailing human data on the carcinogenic effects of
chrysotile asbestos (including large numbers of mesotheliomas among Canadians)
exist is reminiscent of a similar claim by Nicholson et al. (7) in which his
exaggerated numbers were correctly put into perspective by the epidemiologists
studying the Canadian workers (8). His unreferenced conclusion that
mesotheliomas are largely from chrysotile exposure in insulation workers and
family members who were exposed to low doses ignores the fact that these
individuals encountered mixed exposures to chrysotile and amphiboles at much
higher concentrations than levels of asbestos (predominantly chrysotile)
occurring in homes and public buildings today. Moreover, Rall does not
acknowledge the significant content of amphibole fibers in the lungs of these
workers (9) as well as recent studies showing a correlation between the lung
burden of tremolite, but not chrysotile, in the lungs of Canadian miners with
mesothelioma (. |
| Dr. Finkelstein also cited five cases of mesothelioma among former
Holmes workers. Three of the five workers died at less than fifty years
of age and all were less than sixty years old! |
| In order to provide estimates of the accuracy of death certification
of malignant pleural mesothelioma in Italy, the causes of
death of a series of ascertained cases were investigated. The study
included 523 cases of pleural mesothelioma diagnosed in
1984-1988 by 88 hospital departments and clinics. Vital status at 7
May 1990 was ascertained for 92.7% of subjects. The
overall concordance between pathological diagnosis and death
certification was about 75%.
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Med Lav 1994 Mar-Apr;85(2):157-60 |
