Domestic Asbestos Exposure: A Review of Epidemiologic and Exposure Data

Abstract

Inhalation of asbestos resulting from living with and handling the clothing of workers directly exposed to asbestos has been established as a possible contributor to disease. This review evaluates epidemiologic studies of asbestos-related disease or conditions (mesothelioma, lung cancer, and pleural and interstitial abnormalities) among domestically exposed individuals and exposure studies that provide either direct exposure measurements or surrogate measures of asbestos exposure. A meta-analysis of studies providing relative risk estimates (n = 12) of mesothelioma was performed, resulting in a summary relative risk estimate (SRRE) of 5.02 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.48–10.13). This SRRE pertains to persons domestically exposed via workers involved in occupations with a traditionally high risk of disease from exposure to asbestos (i.e., asbestos product manufacturing workers, insulators, shipyard workers, and asbestos miners). The epidemiologic studies also show an elevated risk of interstitial, but more likely pleural, abnormalities (n = 6), though only half accounted for confounding exposures. The studies are limited with regard to lung cancer (n = 2). Several exposure-related studies describe results from airborne samples collected within the home (n = 3), during laundering of contaminated clothing (n = 1) or in controlled exposure simulations (n = 5) of domestic exposures, the latter of which were generally associated with low-level chrysotile-exposed workers. Lung burden studies (n = 6) were also evaluated as a surrogate of exposure. In general, available results for domestic exposures are lower than the workers’ exposures. Recent simulations of low-level chrysotile-exposed workers indicate asbestos levels commensurate with background concentrations in those exposed domestically.

Mesothelin (MSLN) methylation and soluble mesothelin-related protein levels in a Chinese asbestos-exposed population

“…Nevertheless, these subjects found difficult to recall the exposure duration, and no quantification of exposure duration/potential exposure level was obtained in this study. In general, non-occupational exposure concentrations are lower than occupational exposure levels [25]. Our finding of low levels of SMRP in participants non-occupationally exposed to asbestos is comparable with other report, which showed that there was no significant elevation of SMRP levels in participants exposed to naturally occurring asbestos compared with subjects without asbestos exposure [26].…”

“…According to the categories of non-occupational exposure scenarios as previously defined [25], either household contamination (secondary, para-occupational exposure) or neighborhood exposure was recorded in the present study. The household contamination determined here not only referred to the exposure resulting from asbestos fibers brought into the home through the workers' contaminated clothing [25], but also to the occasional exposure when he/she accompanied with his/her relatives during the period of manufacturing asbestos-related product at household textile workshop. Nevertheless, these subjects found difficult to recall the exposure duration, and no quantification of exposure duration/potential exposure level was obtained in this study.…”

Mesothelioma trends in the ACT and comparisons with the rest of Australia

“…4 Domestic exposure to asbestos is a major concern in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT). Between 1968 and 1979, D. Jansen & Co. Pty Ltd and its successor firms -commonly and collectively referred to as 'Mr Fluffy' -insulated homes in the ACT and southern New South Wales (NSW) by blowing crushed (loose-fill), mainly amosite, asbestos into roof spaces.…”

Evaluation of the use of Environmental Asbestos in Siverek

“…Ülkemizde bildirilen 113 asbest depoziti olup, içerik olarak %65 chrysotile, %39 tremolite ve %1 crocidolitdir [1]. Asbest dünyada ısıtma boruları, izolasyon, su borusu kaplamaları, seramik musluk tutturucuları, zemin, duvar ve tavan kaplamaları, kanalizasyon boruları, fren balataları gibi endüstrinin bir çok alanında kullanılmaktadır [1][2]. Asbest minerali binlerce yıldır insanlar tarafından bilinmekte ve kullanılmaktadır (2].…”