title: A review of mortality associated with elongate mineral particle (EMP) exposure in occupational epidemiology studies of gold, talc, and taconite mining.
abstract: Mining of gold, taconite, and talc may involve exposure to elongate mineral particles (EMP). The involved EMPs are typically non-asbestiform, include dimensions that regulatory definitions exclude, and have been less studied.
  
  
  
  A review of the literature was undertaken for this exposure and occupational epidemiological studies that occur in gold, talc, and taconite mining.
  
  
  
  Quantitative EMP exposure information in these industries is incomplete. However, there are consistent findings of pneumoconiosis in each of these types of mining. A recent case-control study suggests a possible association between this exposure and mesothelioma. Lung cancer is inconsistently reported in these industries and is an unlikely outcome of non-asbestiform EMP exposure. There is evidence of cardiovascular mortality excess across all of these types of mining.
  
  
  
  Non-malignant respiratory disease and cardiovascular mortality have been consistently increased in these industries. Further investigation, including additional insights for the role of non-asbestiform EMP, is warranted. Am. J. Ind. Med. 59:1047-1060, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
authors.affiliation: Division of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Minnesota School of Public Health, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
authors.forename: Jeffrey H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Mandel
authors.affiliation: Division of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Minnesota School of Public Health, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
authors.forename: Bruce H
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Alexander
authors.affiliation: Division of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Minnesota School of Public Health, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
authors.forename: Gurumurthy
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ramachandran
mesh_terms: D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000633:toxicity*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality; D006046:Gold; D006801:Humans; D007501:Iron; D008654:Mesothelioma / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality; D008903:Minerals; D008906:Mining; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010316:Particle Size; D011009:Pneumoconiosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality; D017640:Silicates; D013627:Talc
chemical_list: D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D008903:Minerals; D017640:Silicates; C026703:taconite; D013627:Talc; D006046:Gold; D007501:Iron
keywords: elongate mineral particle; epidemiology; exposure assessment; gold mining; mining; non-asbestiform; taconite mining; talc mining