Studying university buildings for asbestos pollution

One interesting study is called, "Fibre distribution in the lungs and pleura of subjects

with asbestos related diffuse pleural fibrosis." By A R Gibbs, M Stephens, D M Griffiths, B J Blight, F D Pooley - Br J Ind Med 1991;48:762-770. Here is an excerpt: "Abstract - The lungs from 13 cases of diffuse pleural fibrosis associated with a history of exposure to asbestos were examined. Samples were taken from the visceral pleura and central and subpleural zones of the lungs for histopathological and mineralogical studies. The fibre type, size, and number were estimated for each of these regions by transmission electron microscopy and energy dispersive x ray analysis. Amphibole fibre counts were raised when compared with a non-occupationally exposed group and matched those seen in cases of pleural plaques, mild asbestosis, and mesothelioma. A wide case to case variation of distribution was seen. No significant difference was apparent between central and subpleural zones, whereas low asbestos counts were found in the pleura; these were mainly short chrysotile fibres. Within the lungs more (45%) of the longer (greater than 4 microns) and thinner (less than 0.25 micron) amphibole fibres were retained in keeping with other studies implicating such fibre profiles in the pathogenesis of asbestos related disease."

Another interesting study is called, "Epidemiologic investigation of respiratory effects related to environmental exposure to asbestos inside insulated buildings" - Arch. Environ. Health; (United States); Journal Volume: 42:5. Here is an excerpt: "The respiratory effects of environmental pollution by asbestos inside university buildings were studied by comparing radiographic, clinical, and functional parameters among three groups of workers with different levels of exposure. Eight hundred and twenty-eight (828) people who worked for at least 15 yr in asbestos-insulated buildings and who were without known occupational exposure to asbestos (environmentally exposed group (EE) were compared to a group of 252 workers with occupational exposure (occupationally exposed group (OE), used as positive control; and to a group of 350 people with no known exposure to asbestos (nonexposed group (NE), within the same university. After adjustment for confounding variables, no differences could be seen between groups EE and NE. Group OE exhibited a higher prevalence of pleural changes and lower lung functions than groups EE and NE."

Another interesting study is called, "Relationship between Asbestos Exposures and 8-Hydroxydeoxyguanosine Levels in Leukocytic DNA of Workers at a Chinese Asbestos-material Plant." By Takahashi K, Pan G, Kasai H, Hanaoka T, Feng Y, Liu N, Zhang S, Xu Z, Tsuda T, Yamato H, Higashi T, Okubo T. - Int J Occup Environ Health. 1997 Apr;3(2):111-119. Here is an excerpt: "Abstract - The objective of the study was to evaluate the level of 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) in DNA of peripheral-blood leukocytes as a biological marker of asbestos exposure and/or its fibrotic effects in an occupational population exposed to asbestos. The setting was a large-scale asbestos plant in China producing brake linings, asbestos rubber, and textile using chrysotile. From a base population of active and retired workers with various levels of cumulative exposure to asbestos and grades of asbestosis, 39 study subjects were randomly selected to reflect incremental grades of asbestosis based on Chinese diagnostic standards. They consisted of 19 "normal" (control) and ten "suspected" and ten "definite" asbestosis-grade subjects, group-matched for age and sex. Leukocytic DNA was extracted from 5-mL samples of peripheral blood and 8-OHdG level measured by high-pressure liquid chromatography. A cumulative asbestos exposure index (CEI) was calculated for each subject as the summed product of duration and level of asbestos exposure per job, incorporating a job-exposure matrix. Geometric mean 8-OHdG levels showed a positive gradient in relation to increasing grades of asbestosis (control: 1.78, suspected: 2.21, definite: 2.58), with a significant difference between the control and definite-asbestosis subgroups (p < 0.05). The 8-OHdG level of the two subgroups combined as one "asbestosis" group was significantly higher than that of the control group (control: 1.78, asbestosis: 2.39, p = 0.01). Further, 8-OHdG levels were moderately correlated with CEIs for all subjects (r = 0.35, p < 0.05) and with grades of asbestosis for all (r = 0.47, p < 0.01) and for male subjects (r = 0.43, p < 0.05). In multiple regression analyses, grade of asbestosis explained 27% of the total variation in 8-OHdG and was a better predictor than CEI or duration of exposure. Thus, the 8-OHdG level in leukocytic DNA is related to grade of asbestosis and to individual cumulative exposure and may serve as a biologic marker reflecting the status of oxidative DNA damage by asbestos."

If you found any of these excerpts interesting, please read the studies in their entirety. We all owe a debt of gratitude to these researchers for their hard work.

Studying university buildings for asbestos pollution

By: Montwrobleski77

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