title: [Occupational exposure to asbestos and incidence of malignant mesothelioma in the Lazio region, years 2001-2009: results of the activities of the regional register].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The Lazio Regional Mesothelioma Registry records the incident cases of Malignant Mesothelioma (MM) in residents in the Region since 2001.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Estimate the incidence of MM in the Lazio Region (2001-2009) and assess possible asbestos exposures.
  
  
  METHODS
  The MM cases, notified by hospitals, regional protection and workplace safety units, Italian Workers' Compensation Authority, other regions, or extracted from hospital information systems and the regional registry of causes of death, are included in the register after analysis of diagnostic procedures (CT scan, chest X-ray, pathology reports and patients' records). Possible asbestos exposure is investigated by standardized interview and thereafter defined by a panel of experts, according to RENAM guidelines. The incidence of MM of the pleura and peritoneum (per 100,000 inhabitants) for the period 2001-2009 is calculated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The incidence of MM among Lazio residents in the period 2001-2009 (600 cases) was estimated to be 1.8 among men and 0.5 among women per 100,000 inhabitants. Information on exposures was collectedfor 54% of the cases (251 men and 78 women); 72% of men (n. 179) and 9% of women (n. 7) had been occupationally exposed to asbestos. The study found that the largest number of cases with occupational exposure was among workers in the construction industry. The number of cases with unknown exposure was very high.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The registry's work revealed the existence of asbestos exposure circumstances that were not sufficiently characterized,for which it is suggested that more detailed industrial hygiene investigations be performed, as well as measurement of asbestos bodies and/or fibres in lung tissue.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Epidemiologia del Servizio Sanitario Regionale, Regione Lazio. e.romeo@deplazio.it
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Romeo
authors.forename: Valeria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ascoli
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ancona
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Balestri
authors.forename: Caterina Carnovale
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Scalzo
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cavariani
authors.forename: Patrizia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Compagnucci
authors.forename: Letizia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gasperini
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mataloni
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Forastiere
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001194:Asbestos / Q000633:toxicity*; D003252:Construction Materials; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008654:Mesothelioma / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D008669:Metallurgy; D008875:Middle Aged; D008889:Military Personnel; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D010496:Pericardium; D010534:Peritoneal Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D010997:Pleural Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D012042:Registries; D017678:Sex Distribution
chemical_list: D001194:Asbestos