Lung mineral fibers of former miners and millers from Thetford-Mines and asbestos regions: a comparative study of fiber concentration and dimension

Arch Environ Health. 2001 Jan-Feb;56(1):65-76. doi: 10.1080/00039890109604056.

Abstract

Fiber dimension and concentration may vary substantially between two necropsy populations of former chrysotile miners and millers of Thetford-Mines and Asbestos regions. This possibility could explain, at least in part, the higher incidence of respiratory diseases among workers from Thetford-Mines than among workers from the Asbestos region. The authors used a transmission electron microscope, equipped with an x-ray energy-dispersive spectrometer, to analyze lung mineral fibers of 86 subjects from the two mining regions and to classify fiber sizes into three categories. The most consistent difference was the higher concentration of tremolite in lung tissues of workers from Thetford-Mines, compared with workers from the Asbestos region. Amosite and crocidolite were also detected in lung tissues of several workers from the Asbestos region. No consistent and biologically important difference was found for fiber dimension; therefore, fiber dimension does not seem to be a factor that accounts for the difference in incidence of respiratory diseases between the two groups. The greater incidence of respiratory diseases among workers of Thetford-Mines can be explained by the fact that they had greater exposure to fibers than did workers at the Asbestos region. Among the mineral fibers studied, retention of tremolite fibers was most apparent.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Asbestos, Amosite / adverse effects
  • Asbestos, Amosite / analysis*
  • Asbestos, Amosite / classification
  • Asbestos, Amphibole / adverse effects
  • Asbestos, Amphibole / analysis*
  • Asbestos, Amphibole / classification
  • Asbestos, Crocidolite / adverse effects
  • Asbestos, Crocidolite / analysis*
  • Asbestos, Crocidolite / classification
  • Asbestosis / epidemiology
  • Asbestosis / etiology
  • Asbestosis / pathology*
  • Autopsy
  • Environmental Monitoring / methods
  • Epidemiological Monitoring
  • Extraction and Processing Industry*
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • Microscopy, Electron
  • Middle Aged
  • Mineral Fibers / adverse effects
  • Mineral Fibers / analysis*
  • Mineral Fibers / classification
  • Mining*
  • Occupational Exposure / adverse effects
  • Occupational Exposure / analysis
  • Quebec / epidemiology
  • Spectrometry, X-Ray Emission

Substances

  • Asbestos, Amphibole
  • Mineral Fibers
  • Asbestos, Crocidolite
  • Asbestos, Amosite
  • tremolite