Francine Baumann1, Brenda J Buck2, Rodney V Metcalf2, Brett T McLaurin3, Douglas J Merkler4, Michele Carbone5. 1. Cancer Center, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, Hawaii. Electronic address: fbaumann@cc.hawaii.edu. 2. Department of Geoscience, University of Nevada Las Vegas, Las Vegas, Nevada. 3. Department of Environmental, Geographical and Geological Sciences, Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania. 4. USDA, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Las Vegas, Nevada. 5. Cancer Center, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, Hawaii.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Inhalation of asbestos and other mineral fibers is known causes of malignant mesothelioma (MM) and lung cancers. In a setting of occupational exposure to asbestos, MM occurs four to eight times more frequently in men than in women, at the median age of 74 years, whereas an environmental exposure to asbestos causes the same number of MMs in men and women, at younger ages. METHODS: We studied the geology of Nevada to identify mineral fibers in the environment. We compared MM mortality in different Nevada counties, per sex and age group, for the 1999 to 2010 period. RESULTS: We identified the presence of carcinogenic minerals in Nevada, including actinolite asbestos, erionite, winchite, magnesioriebeckite, and richterite. We discovered that, compared with the United States and other Nevada counties, Clark and Nye counties, in southern Nevada, had a significantly higher proportion of MM that occurred in young individuals (<55 years) and in women. CONCLUSIONS: The elevated percentage of women and individuals younger than 55 years old, combined with a sex ratio of 1:1 in this age group and the presence of naturally occurring asbestos, suggests that environmental exposure to mineral fibers in southern Nevada may be contributing to some of these mesotheliomas. Further research to assess environmental exposures should allow the development of strategies to minimize exposure, as the development of rural areas continues in Nevada, and to prevent MM and other asbestos-related diseases.
BACKGROUND: Inhalation of asbestos and other mineral fibers is known causes of malignant mesothelioma (MM) and lung cancers. In a setting of occupational exposure to asbestos, MM occurs four to eight times more frequently in men than in women, at the median age of 74 years, whereas an environmental exposure to asbestos causes the same number of MMs in men and women, at younger ages. METHODS: We studied the geology of Nevada to identify mineral fibers in the environment. We compared MM mortality in different Nevada counties, per sex and age group, for the 1999 to 2010 period. RESULTS: We identified the presence of carcinogenic minerals in Nevada, including actinolite asbestos, erionite, winchite, magnesioriebeckite, and richterite. We discovered that, compared with the United States and other Nevada counties, Clark and Nye counties, in southern Nevada, had a significantly higher proportion of MM that occurred in young individuals (<55 years) and in women. CONCLUSIONS: The elevated percentage of women and individuals younger than 55 years old, combined with a sex ratio of 1:1 in this age group and the presence of naturally occurring asbestos, suggests that environmental exposure to mineral fibers in southern Nevada may be contributing to some of these mesotheliomas. Further research to assess environmental exposures should allow the development of strategies to minimize exposure, as the development of rural areas continues in Nevada, and to prevent MM and other asbestos-related diseases.
Authors: Matthew J Soeberg; Mai Anh Luong; Van Thuan Tran; Anh Thanh Tran; Thị Thu Huyen Nguyen; Dieu Bui; Thi Hoai Nga Nguyen; Ken Takahashi; Nico van Zandwijk Journal: Int J Occup Environ Health Date: 2016-07-08
Authors: Albert Miller; Jaime Szeinuk; Curtis W Noonan; Claudia I Henschke; Jean Pfau; Brad Black; David F Yankelevitz; Mingzhu Liang; Ying Liu; Rowena Yip; Tracy McNew; Laura Linker; Raja Flores Journal: J Occup Environ Med Date: 2018-02 Impact factor: 2.162
Authors: Kristin J Cummings; Michael J Becich; David J Blackley; Dennis Deapen; Robert Harrison; Raffit Hassan; S Jane Henley; Mary Hesdorffer; D Kevin Horton; Jacek M Mazurek; Harvey I Pass; Emanuela Taioli; Xiao-Cheng Wu; Marjorie G Zauderer; David N Weissman Journal: Am J Ind Med Date: 2019-11-19 Impact factor: 2.214
Authors: Michele Carbone; Prasad S Adusumilli; H Richard Alexander; Paul Baas; Fabrizio Bardelli; Angela Bononi; Raphael Bueno; Emanuela Felley-Bosco; Francoise Galateau-Salle; David Jablons; Aaron S Mansfield; Michael Minaai; Marc de Perrot; Patricia Pesavento; Valerie Rusch; David T Severson; Emanuela Taioli; Anne Tsao; Gavitt Woodard; Haining Yang; Marjorie G Zauderer; Harvey I Pass Journal: CA Cancer J Clin Date: 2019-07-08 Impact factor: 508.702