Relation of environmental exposure to erionite fibres to risk of respiratory cancer.
During the period 1979-1983, IARC, in collaboration with the Department of Chest Diseases of Hacettepe University in Ankara and the MRC Pneumoconiosis Unit in Penarth, conducted an epidemiological and environmental survey in 4 villages in central Turkey affected by a high incidence of mesothelial tumours. Recent data point to erionite, a zeolite fibre, as the most plausible etiological agent. From animal experiments, erionite appears to be the most powerful carcinogenic fibre so far known. During the study period, 17 pleural mesotheliomas and 7 lung cancer cases have been reported among the villagers. These cancer cases are analysed in relation to exposure to fibres. We assume exposure to occur from birth onwards and therefore consider duration of exposure equal to age. On this basis, the incidence of mesothelial and lung tumours is analysed in relation to age and cumulative exposure to fibres computed using the airborne fibre levels measured during the survey.
Simonato
L
L
Unit of Analytical Epidemiology, International Agency for Research on Cancer, Lyon, France.
Baris
R
R
Saracci
R
R
Skidmore
J
J
Winkelmann
R
R
D000328:Adult; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000538:Aluminum Silicates / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology* / Q000401:mortality; D008654:Mesothelioma / Q000209:etiology* / Q000401:mortality; D008875:Middle Aged; D010997:Pleural Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology* / Q000401:mortality; D012307:Risk Factors; D014421:Turkey; D017641:Zeolites
D000393:Air Pollutants; D000538:Aluminum Silicates; D017641:Zeolites