DefinePK

Abstract

Health risks from asbestos exposures have been evaluated taking account of data from the past, when exposures at workplaces were higher than today. The linear no-threshold model has been applied although its relevance is unproven. Presumably, releases from natural emission sources dwarf man-made contributions to the atmospheric dispersion of asbestos. Fibers are frequently found in the lungs and pleura of deceased people from the general population. Finding of fibers does not prove that a disease is caused by asbestos. It can be reasonably assumed that a targeted search for mesothelioma and other asbestos-related conditions in exposed populations resulted in an increased detection rate. Histological and immunohistochemical characteristics of malignant mesothelioma partly overlap with other cancers, which may contribute to overdiagnosis in exposed populations. The etiology and differential diagnosis of malignant pleural mesothelioma as well as differences in carcinogenicity between chrysotile and amphibole asbestos are briefly discussed here. There are motives to strangulate the use of amphiboles fuelled by interests of chrysotile producers. In the author’s opinion, current regulations applied in some countries are exceedingly restrictive and should be revised on the basis of independent research. The promising way to reliable information would be large-scale animal experiments. It can be reasonably assumed that non-application of asbestos-containing brakes, fireproofing, insulation lagging etc. would augment the damage and numbers of civil victims of conflicts, fires and traffic accidents.