[Malignant mesothelioma of the pleura in a truck driver].
BACKGROUND
Among the responsibilities of the health operators in the occupational health and safety services of the local health units in Lombardy (Italy) is the administration of standardized questionnaires for the investigation of possible occupational exposure to asbestos fibres in subjects diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma.


OBJECTIVE
To describe a case of malignant mesothelioma in a truck driver suspected of being occupationally exposed to asbestos during the course of administration of the questionnaire.


METHODS
Analysis of the literature regarding asbestos contamination of truck cabs. Some years ago Italian authors described a case of asbestosis in a truck-driver and findings of pollution by asbestos fibres in the cabs of some models of trucks.


RESULTS
The subject had worked for more than 30 years as a truck driver operating on long distances on truck models described in literature as contaminated by asbestos fibres. He had not transported materials made of asbestos, and had not carried out maintenance on the trucks, nor had he any non-occupational sources of exposure to asbestos. Thus the mesothelioma was related to occupational exposure and procedures were initiated for reporting a suspected occupational disease.
Canti
Zulejka
Z
ASL Città di Milano, Servizio Prevenzione e Sicurezza negli Ambienti di Lavoro (SPSAL), UOPSAL, Milano. zcanti@asl.milano.it
Scillia
R
R
Cantoni
Susanna
S
Mensi
Carolina
C
D000368:Aged; D001194:Asbestos / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001334:Automobile Driving; D015984:Causality; D004866:Equipment Contamination; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008654:Mesothelioma / Q000209:etiology*; D019016:Mineral Fibers / Q000009:adverse effects*; D018986:Motor Vehicles; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D010997:Pleural Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D019016:Mineral Fibers; D001194:Asbestos