Because of its exceptional properties, asbestos was used in hundreds of different applications over the last 100 years (in Italy about 150000 tons/year were consumed throughout the 80’s). Asbestos exposure can cause diseases in two principal locations: lung and pleura. Asbestosis (a diffuse interstitial fibrosis) and cancer can develop in lungs, while pleural plaques and malignant mesothelioma can affect pleural and peritoneal cavities. Lung pathologies are principally dose-dependent, on the contrary pleural and peritoneal diseases can manifest, years later the first exposure (pleural plaques have a minimum latency period of about 13 years, mesothelioma about 20), even in absence of high asbestos exposure time and intensities. The scientific evidence that low-dose exposures to asbestos carry a measurable risk of malignant pleural mesothelioma led to the mining and production prohibition in developed countries. Nowadays the scientific knowledge and technologic progress are well-established in terms of environment and workers’ protection, as to assure workplace health and safety in asbestos treatment operations and maintenance.

Patologia umana conseguente all’inalazione di fibre di asbesto / A. Cattaneo, D.M. Cavallo, V. Foà. - In: RENDICONTI DELLA SOCIETÀ GEOLOGICA ITALIANA. - ISSN 0392-3037. - 3:(2006), pp. 37-40.

Patologia umana conseguente all’inalazione di fibre di asbesto

A. Cattaneo
Primo
;
D.M. Cavallo
Secondo
;
V. Foà
Ultimo
2006

Abstract

Because of its exceptional properties, asbestos was used in hundreds of different applications over the last 100 years (in Italy about 150000 tons/year were consumed throughout the 80’s). Asbestos exposure can cause diseases in two principal locations: lung and pleura. Asbestosis (a diffuse interstitial fibrosis) and cancer can develop in lungs, while pleural plaques and malignant mesothelioma can affect pleural and peritoneal cavities. Lung pathologies are principally dose-dependent, on the contrary pleural and peritoneal diseases can manifest, years later the first exposure (pleural plaques have a minimum latency period of about 13 years, mesothelioma about 20), even in absence of high asbestos exposure time and intensities. The scientific evidence that low-dose exposures to asbestos carry a measurable risk of malignant pleural mesothelioma led to the mining and production prohibition in developed countries. Nowadays the scientific knowledge and technologic progress are well-established in terms of environment and workers’ protection, as to assure workplace health and safety in asbestos treatment operations and maintenance.
Asbestos; Asbestosis; Lung cancer; Malignant mesothelioma; Pleural plaques
Settore MED/44 - Medicina del Lavoro
2006
Article (author)
File in questo prodotto:
File Dimensione Formato  
Cattaneo et al 2006 - Patologie.pdf

accesso aperto

Tipologia: Publisher's version/PDF
Dimensione 205.16 kB
Formato Adobe PDF
205.16 kB Adobe PDF Visualizza/Apri
Pubblicazioni consigliate

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/2434/47339
Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? ND
  • Scopus 7
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? ND
social impact