US EPA

3085065 

Journal Article 

Trends in the health of the asbestos worker 

Smith, KW 

1965 

Yes 

Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences
ISSN: 0077-8923
EISSN: 1749-6632 

NIOSH/00158463 

132 

1 

685-690 

English 

5219581 

10.1111/j.1749-6632.1965.tb41146.x 

The state of research regarding the threats posed by exposure to asbestos (1332214) among workers are discussed. The three main types of asbestos fibers in commercial use today, chrysotile (12001295), amosite (12172735), and crocidolite (12001284), are different physiologically and chemically. The three different types also produce different forms of disease. Many studies have indicated that asbestos exposure induces pulmonary problems, but the studies have not always identified or clearly defined the type of exposure, the degree of exposure, or the person exposed. Many workers called asbestos workers and studied as such may never have been exposed to any form of asbestos. Vastly different working and living conditions outside of the work area may also cause studies to have different results. Other studies have found asbestosis in workers handling fiber, but not in workers who produce it. It is also difficult to distinguish occupational from nonoccupational exposure. Air pollution not related to asbestos production may have a large influence on rates of lung cancer among asbestos workers. The author concludes that isolated studies of small selected groups may be interesting, but the true picture of the biological effects of the asbestos fiber will emerge only when there is a broad study, conducted by an impartial agency, on a nationwide scale. 

Index Medicus; Health Surveys; Asbestosis