Fibre-years, pulmonary asbestos burden and asbestosis.
The relations between cumulative asbestos fibre doses at the work-places and asbestos burden of the lung evaluated by lung dust analyses have been tested on 3 different groups of patients of the German Mesothelioma Register: 1. total collective (n = 366), 2. collective without elevated asbestos burden of the lungs (n = 193), 3. collective with asbestoses/minimal asbestoses (n = 64). The relations between the above mentioned parameters are in general only weak. The limit value of > 25 fibre-years is found in 19.6% of persons without increased pulmonary asbestos burden. In spite of reaching or exceeding the cumulative doses of 25 fibre-years, 24% of the whole collective also show no elevated asbestos-concentrations in their lung tissues. By contrast, 42% of patients with asbestos-associated lung fibroses do not attain 25 fibre-years at their work-places. Considering our data it is doubtful that the postulated limit value of 25 fibre-years can be an adequate parameter for the evaluation of asbestos-associated lung fibroses.
Fischer
M
M
Günther
S
S
Müller
K M
KM
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001194:Asbestos / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001195:Asbestosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000209:etiology; D002273:Carcinogens / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D011658:Pulmonary Fibrosis / Q000209:etiology; D013997:Time Factors
D002273:Carcinogens; D001194:Asbestos