Talcosis and asbestosis in New York talc miners: dose response analysis of occupational exposure lung pathology and lung particulate burden

Details

• Personal Author:
  Abraham JL ; Burnett BR ; Hunt A
• Description:
  Pneumoconioses (talcosis, asbestosis, silicosis) and pleural plaques have long been associated with the large tremolitic talc deposit in upstate New York. We have recently studied autopsies (n=17) or biopsies (n=3) from men exposed from 0.4 to 39 yrs (from 1925-1990, most after 1950), including lung cancer (n=7) and mesothelioma cases (n=3). Fourteen were part of a NIOSH cohort [the source of cumulative exposure (EXP) data (in mppcf-yrs)], while 6 worked exclusively at mines not part of the cohort. Asbestosis (FIBR) was diagnosed and graded using standard criteria. Electron microprobe quantitative analysis (QA) of lung burden (LB) was done using in situ QA for non-fibrous (n=14) and digestion QA for fibrous (n=12) particles. Ranges (medians) include: age 39-76 (59); EXP 2.3-341 (48); LB 6.3x10(6) - 1.8x10(11) [2.6x10(8)] total fibers/g dry lung. Correlations with p<0.05 were observed between, e.g.,: EXP and LB of non-fibrous talc, fibrous (asbestiform) talc, FIBR; FIBR and fibrous talc. Within this sample of cases, there was no demonstrable qualitative or quantitative difference in the LB or pathology between cases from the cohort and others. Asbestiform talc and tremolite fibers form a major portion (mean=43%) of the LB; cleavage fragments are also present. These data support a dose-response relationship between EXP and LB of asbestiform, non-asbestiform particles and fibrosis, and between LB and fibrosis. Relationships between measured EXP, LB and FIBR were similar to those observed in other asbestos workers. Our data do not resolve the question of increased risk of lung cancer related to these exposures. Most cohort cases had mining exposures in addition to those estimated by NIOSH. This complexity may in part explain some of the contradictory epidemiologic analyses reported by others. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Asbestos Autopsy Dust Environmental Monitoring Inorganic Chemicals Lung Lung Diseases Mining Neoplasms Occupational Health Particulate Matter Pathology Respiratory System Respiratory Tract Diseases Safety Silicon Compounds Silicon Dioxide Talc

  More +
• Keywords:
  Asbestos-dust Asbestos-fibers Asbestosis Autopsies Biopsy Dose-response Exposure-assessment Fibrous-bodies Lung-burden Lung-cancer Lung-disorders Lung-fibrosis Mesothelial-cells Miners Mining-industry Postmortem-examination Pulmonary-system-disorders Quantitative-analysis Respiratory-system-disorders Silica-dusts Silicon-compounds Silicosis Talc-dust Talcosis

  More +
• ISSN:
  0003-0805
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Abstract or Summary
• Place as Subject:
  New York ; OSHA Region 2
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  145
• Issue:
  4
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20044922
• Citation:
  Am Rev Respir Dis 1992 Apr; 145(4)(Pt 2)(Meeting Abstracts):A323
• Contact Point Address:
  SUNY Health Science Center, Syracuse, NY 13210
• CAS Registry Number:
  Asbestos (CAS RN 1332-21-4) ; Quartz (SiO2) (CAS RN 14808-60-7) ; Silica (CAS RN 7631-86-9) ; Tremolite (Ca2[(Mg0.9-1Fe0-0.1)4.5-5Al0-0.5](Si7.5-8Al0-0.5)(OH)2O22) (CAS RN 14567-73-8)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  1992
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Part Number:
  2
• Source Full Name:
  American Review of Respiratory Disease
• Supplement:
  Meeting Abstracts
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:84db23e506544d323628d914a77f8a37f3da0d3c573dc5a12a7f7a0eb3b4637da08538875157a57c5bf8b549d1d0ebdf60849e7d3e0e705a0e0757f3655861e4
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/200508/cdc_200508_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 88.15 KB ]