2024 World Conference on Lung Cancer (WCLC) - Posters-P4.14C.01 Trends of Asbestos Lung Content in the General Population

Pdf Summary

The study by Emanuela Taioli, MD, PhD, investigates the trends of asbestos lung content in the general population, especially considering both occupational and non-occupational exposure. The research aims to understand historical asbestos exposure patterns and whether these have evolved over recent decades. <br /><br />The study involved analyzing formalin-fixed lung samples from 50 individuals who died between 2001 and 2023. These subjects were selected based on specific criteria: they were over 40 years of age, died from traumatic causes, had no history of neoplastic or respiratory diseases, and had no known asbestos exposure. Using a scanning electron microscope equipped with energy dispersion spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), the concentration and type of asbestos fibers, such as asbestos bodies (ABs) and uncovered fibers (AFs), were determined.<br /><br />Results indicated that asbestos fibers were present in a significant portion of the study population, with AFs detected in 28% and ABs in 22% of the subjects. Different types of asbestos fibers were identified, with chrysotile found in 6% of cases, and non-commercial amphiboles such as tremolite/actinolite detected in 24% of cases. Notably, commercial amphiboles like amosite and anthophyllite were rare, and crocidolite was entirely absent. There was a noticeable distinction based on birth year: individuals born before 1940 showed exposure to both chrysotile and non-commercial amphiboles, whereas those born after 1940 showed predominantly non-commercial amphibole exposure. <br /><br />The study concludes that asbestos lung content has decreased significantly over the decades, associating this with the mines and usage bans enforced in western countries. These findings emphasize the importance of implementing similar bans in countries where asbestos is still used, highlighting the beneficial impact of such regulations on reducing asbestos exposure.

Asset Subtitle

emanuela taioli

Meta Tag

Speaker emanuela taioli

Topic Mesothelioma, Thymoma & Other Thoracic Tumors

Keywords

asbestos exposure

lung content

occupational exposure

non-occupational exposure

asbestos fibers

chrysotile

amphiboles

SEM-EDS

asbestos bans

public health