title: The risk of asbestos exposure in South African diamond mine workers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Asbestos is associated with South African diamond mines due to the nature of kimberlite and the location of the diamond mines in relation to asbestos deposits. Very little is known about the health risks in the diamond mining industry. The objective of this study was to explore the possibility of asbestos exposure during the process of diamond mining.
  
  
  METHODS
  Scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy analysis were used to identify asbestos fibres in the lungs of diamond mine workers who had an autopsy for compensation purposes and in the tailings and soils from three South African diamond mines located close to asbestos deposits. The asbestos lung fibre burdens were calculated. We also documented asbestos-related pathological findings in diamond mine workers at autopsy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Tremolite-actinolite asbestos fibres were identified in the lungs of five men working on diamond mines. Tremolite-actinolite and/or chrysotile asbestos were present in the mine tailings of all three mines. Mesothelioma, asbestosis, and/or pleural plaques were diagnosed in six diamond mine workers at autopsy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings indicate that diamond mine workers are at risk of asbestos exposure and, thus, of developing asbestos-related diseases. South Africa is a mineral-rich country and, when mining one commodity, it is likely that other minerals, including asbestos, will be accidentally mined. Even at low concentrations, asbestos has the potential to cause disease, and mining companies should be aware of the health risk of accidentally mining it. Recording of comprehensive work histories should be mandatory to enable the risk to be quantified in future studies.
authors: Pathology Division, National Institute for Occupational Health, National Health Laboratory Service, Johannesburg 2000, South Africa. gill.nelson@wits.ac.za
authors: Gill
authors: G
authors: Nelson
authors: Jill
authors: J
authors: Murray
authors: James Ian
authors: JI
authors: Phillips
mesh_terms: D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity; D001194:Asbestos / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity; D017636:Asbestos, Amphibole / Q000032:analysis; D001195:Asbestosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology*; D001344:Autopsy; D019992:Databases as Topic; D018130:Diamond; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D062665:Epidemiological Monitoring; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008654:Mesothelioma / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology; D019016:Mineral Fibers / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity; D008906:Mining; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010994:Pleura / Q000473:pathology; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000032:analysis; D013019:South Africa / Q000453:epidemiology; D013627:Talc / Q000032:analysis; D014942:Workers' Compensation
chemical_list: D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D017636:Asbestos, Amphibole; D019016:Mineral Fibers; D012989:Soil Pollutants; C036431:ferroactinolite; D001194:Asbestos; C005846:tremolite; D013627:Talc; D018130:Diamond