Tuesday, August 25, 2015
Properties of Asbestos Fibers
Asbestos is a naturally occurring group of fibers, each with its own
unique structure and chemical composition . There are two
subgroups: the serpentine group, consisting of chrysotile; and
the amphiboles, a group of rod-like fibers including crocidolite,
amosite, tremolite, anthophyllite, and actinolite . Asbestos fibers are
ubiquitous in certain geographic areas and become problematic to
human health when they are inhaled. It is unclear how they get to the
pleura to cause mesothelioma.
Epidemiology of Asbestos-Induced Mesotheliomas
The most important causal factor for the development of human
mesothelioma is exposure to asbestos, primarily the amphiboles crocidolite
and amosite. Malignant mesothelioma is presently a worldwide .
Although mesothelioma is a rare disease, with an annual
incidence in the United States of 2000 to 3000 cases, a steady rise in
cases has been reported . In Europe, the incidence of malignant
pleural mesothelioma has risen for decades and is expected to peak
between the years 2010 and 2020 . In Germany, a study conducted
on 1605 patients in the mesothelioma register (1987–1999), found that
70% had a history of exposure to asbestos . In the United Kingdom,
asbestos reportedly accounts for some 600 cases of mesothelioma and
100 cases of bronchial carcinoma per year
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