Carcinogenicity of chrysotile asbestos: a case control study of textile workers

Journal Article · Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1991 · Cell Biology and Toxicology; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00121330· OSTI ID:5270554

Dement, J M ^[1]

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1. National Inst. of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC (USA)

Chrysotile is the predominant type of asbestos used in the United States and thus represents the most important source of exposure to asbestos already in place. While the steepest exposure-response observed for lung cancer has been in workers exposed to chrysotile in textile operations, some argue that chrysotile is less carcinogenic than amphibole asbestos types. Mineral oil exposures have been hypothesized to be responsible for the highly elevated lung cancer risk seen in textile workers. A lung cancer case-control analysis among a cohort of South Carolina chrysotile asbestos textile workers was conducted. Only a modest reduction in the slope of the lung cancer exposure-response relationship was observed after controlling for mineral oil exposures. These data do not support mineral oil exposure as a plausible explanation for the elevated lung cancer risk seen in chrysotile asbestos textile workers. The possible role of longer, thinner, more carcinogenic fibers in textiles is one plausible hypothesis needing further investigation.

• OSTI ID: 5270554
• Journal Information: Cell Biology and Toxicology; (United States), Vol. 7:1; ISSN 0742-2091
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ASBESTOS
CARCINOGENESIS
LUNGS
NEOPLASMS
OCCUPATIONAL DISEASES
OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE
PERSONNEL
SOUTH CAROLINA
TEXTILE INDUSTRY
BODY
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
DISEASES
FEDERAL REGION IV
INDUSTRY
NORTH AMERICA
ORGANS
PATHOGENESIS
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
USA
560300* - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology