[Pleural mesothelioma and environmental exposure to mineral fibres: the case of a rural area in the Basilicata region, Italy].
The main aspects of the sites characterized by environmental exposure to mineral asbestiform fibres are described. Several adverse health effects including high incidence of pleural mesothelioma are reported. The average concentration of airborne fibres is generally low but it rises significantly in association with mechanical disturb of materials with fibres. Multiple sources of exposure have been identified, fibres can be found in the soil and in many materials locally used, mainly in buildings. Three mesothelioma cases were observed in a small rural area of the Basilicata region (Italy). Two of them had a possible occupational exposure to asbestos, the third had a proved environmental exposure to tremolite. This fibre, found in the area, is the same observed in two of the three biological samples analysed.
Pasetto
Roberto
R
Dipartimento di Ambiente e Connessa Prevenzione Primaria, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy. pasetto@iss.it
Bruni
Biagio
B
Bruno
Caterina
C
Cauzillo
Gabriella
G
Cavone
Domenica
D
Convertini
Luca
L
De Mei
Barbara
B
Marconi
Achille
A
Montagano
Giuseppe
G
Musti
Marina
M
Paoletti
Luigi
L
Comba
Pietro
P
D001194:Asbestos / Q000009:adverse effects*; D017636:Asbestos, Amphibole / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008654:Mesothelioma / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D019016:Mineral Fibers / Q000009:adverse effects; D010997:Pleural Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012424:Rural Population
D017636:Asbestos, Amphibole; D019016:Mineral Fibers; D001194:Asbestos; C005846:tremolite