Esposizione ad amianto in settori lavorativi atipici: l'esperienza del Registro Mesoteliomi Lombardia

The report of an accurate occupational history is necessary to recognize a professional exposure to asbestos in subjects with malignant mesothelioma (MM). The experience of the Lombardy Mesothelioma Register let us able to demonstrate the existence of exposure to asbestos in "non-traditional" occupational areas, so named "unusual exposure". An important example is non-asbestos textile industry: we recognized different exposure sources as the building constructions (asbestos used to decrease condensation and noise), the caulked pipes and hot-water heaters, the brakes of textile and spinning machines. Asbestos sprinkled to walls and ceilings was the occupational exposure in 2 magazine printing workers; the presence of asbestos as caulked pipes had determined a cluster of 4 cases of MM in a oil industry. In 3 cases of MM (gold and silver workers) it was possible to demonstrate the presence of asbestos in the fireproof covers used in the welding. Finally a case of MM was absented in a cinema cashier: the asbestos caulking was prescribed in the past safety regulations for fire prevention. The ability to recognize and gather up the different sources of occupational exposure reduces the number of cases otherwise classified as a "unknown aetiology".