Asbestos, asbestosis, pleural plaques and lung cancer.
Inhalation of asbestos fibers increases the risk of bronchial carcinoma. It has been claimed that asbestosis is a necessary prerequisite for the malignancy, but epidemiologic studies usually do not have enough statistical strength to prove that asbestos-exposed patients without asbestosis are without risk. Several recent studies do actually indicate that there is a risk for such patients. In addition, case-referent studies of patients with lung cancer show an attributable risk for asbestos of 6% to 23%, which is much higher than the actual occurrence of asbestosis among these patients. Thus there is an increasing body of evidence that, at low exposure levels, asbestos produces a slight increase in the relative risk of lung cancer even in the absence of asbestosis. Consequently, all exposure to asbestos must be minimized.
Hillerdal
G
G
Department of Lung Medicine, Karolinska Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
Henderson
D W
DW
D000328:Adult; D001194:Asbestos / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001195:Asbestosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015897:Comorbidity; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011658:Pulmonary Fibrosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D011859:Radiography; D012307:Risk Factors
D001194:Asbestos