Subspecialty in Translational MedicineAsbestos-induced lung diseases: an update
Section snippets
Epidemiology
Despite a dramatic decline in asbestos use in industrialized countries since the 1970s, asbestos-induced lung diseases remain a significant health concern for several reasons. First, more than 30 million tons of asbestos have been mined, processed, and used in the United States since the early 1900s.2 An estimated 27 million workers in the United States were exposed to aerosolized asbestos fibers between 1940 and 1979.7 Globally, Lin et al8 recently demonstrated a direct relationship between
Pathophysiology—What's New?
It is well established that the toxic effects of asbestos inhalation depend on the cumulative dose, the elapsed time since the initial exposure, and the physical-chemical properties of the different asbestos fibers.1, 2, 3, 30 Amphibole fibers, as compared with chrysotile, are generally more toxic in part because amphibole fibers accumulate more readily in the distal lung parenchyma, are not cleared as effectively, and are more durable (estimated half-life in the lungs on the order of decades
Conclusions
Asbestos-related lung diseases remain a significant challenge to health care providers as well as to investigators studying the basic mechanisms that underlie asbestos-induced pulmonary toxicity. Given the long latency between asbestos exposure and disease as well as the direct relationship between asbestos consumption and mortality from asbestos-related lung diseases, a total worldwide asbestos ban is strongly supported.6, 8, 17, 18 If asbestos use continues in countries where it is less
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Supported by a Merit Review grant from the Department of Veterans Affairs.