The role of environmental and occupational exposures in Turkish immigrants with fibre-related disease

Abstract

Environmental exposure to tremolite and erionite causes endemic diseases of the lung and pleura in Turkey. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of these exposures and further occupational exposures on fibre-related diseases in Turkish immigrants living in Belgium.The study included 51 males and 17 females that emigrated <1–38 yrs ago. Most of them (n=46) had nonmalignant pleural lesions, one had asbestosis and one had mesothelioma. Environmental asbestos exposure was likely for the majority of patients (60%), but there were also reports of possible occupational asbestos (n=14) and erionite (n=2) exposure.Tremolite was the main fibre type in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). Elevated concentrations of amosite or crocidolite were detected in only two patients. The delay elapsed since the end of the environmental exposure had no influence on the asbestos body or the tremolite fibre concentrations in the BALF of Turkish immigrants.Most fibre-related diseases in Turkish immigrants are probably due to environmental rather than occupational exposure. Precise information about geographical origin and occupation should be obtained when investigating these patients. Mineralogical analysis of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid gives valuable information on the type and intensity of exposure, especially in patients with both environmental and occupational exposure.

Trends in asbestos body counts in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid over two decades

“…The following exclusions were made: 1) where several samples are available for the same patient, only the result of the first suitable sample was included; 2) samples from Turkish immigrants with possible environmental exposures to tremolite or erionite in Turkey [9] were excluded; 3) samples with v5 mL of BALF (n=40) were excluded because such a small volume is probably associated with sampling problems; and 4) all cases where sampling problems were mentioned were excluded. Information on sex and age were available for most patients, but details concerning BALF quality, cells counts, occupational exposure and disease were often incomplete or missing.…”

Mesothelioma due to environmental exposure to erionite in Turkey

“…In rural areas of Turkey, soils or rocks containing tremolite fibers are frequently used for whitewashing houses and various other purposes. This causes high outdoor and indoor airborne fiber concentrations responsible for endemic lung and pleural diseases [13]. These environmental or domestic exposures occur 24 h a day, begin at birth and last the entire life, unless the individual moves to an area without such exposure [13].…”

Prospective study of asbestos-related diseases incidence cases in primary health care in an area of Barcelona province

“…Worldwide, a large number of ARD are not considered or notified as a work-related disease [11]. In Spain, asbestosis, asbestos-related lung cancer and mesothelioma are classified as work-related diseases in the Royal Decree 1995/1978 of 12 th of May [12].…”