Dose-response relationship between amphibole fiber lung burden and mesothelioma.
In a mesothelioma case-control study, asbestos and other mineral fibers from lung burden were examined as causal factors. Diagnosis was confirmed by a panel of pathologists. For 66 cases and 66 controls from hospitals in five German towns, lung tissue fiber analysis by transmission electron microscopy was available. Control patients were treated by a surgical lung resection mostly because of lung cancer. For chrysotile and other mineral fibers a significantly increased odds ratio (OR) was not observed. A clear dose-response relationship was demonstrated for the concentration CA of amphibole fibers longer than 5 microm. Between 0.025 and 2.5 fibers/microg dry weight (f/microg) the relationship can be approximated as OR = CA/(0. 025 f/microg). Similar but less distinct dose-response relationships were found in a Canadian and an Australian study. It is concluded that among German mesothelioma patients factors not associated with amphibole fiber concentration are not predominating.
Rödelsperger
K
K
Institute and Out-Patient Clinic for Occupational and Social Medicine, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, Giessen, Germany.
Woitowitz
H J
HJ
Brückel
B
B
Arhelger
R
R
Pohlabeln
H
H
Jöckel
K H
KH
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D017636:Asbestos, Amphibole / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D017632:Asbestos, Serpentine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis; D001195:Asbestosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D001822:Body Burden; D002273:Carcinogens / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008654:Mesothelioma / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology; D017348:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning Transmission; D008875:Middle Aged; D019016:Mineral Fibers / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking
D017636:Asbestos, Amphibole; D017632:Asbestos, Serpentine; D002273:Carcinogens; D019016:Mineral Fibers