US EPA

3093766 

Journal Article 

[Non-occupational outdoor and indoor exposure to asbestos dust] 

Rodelsperger, K; Schneider, J; Woitowitz, HJ 

1996 

Yes 

Gefahrstoffe, Reinhaltung der Luft / Air Quality Control
ISSN: 0949-8036
EISSN: 1436-4891 

56 

4 

117-126 

German 

WOS:A1996UE96200001 

Results of a case-control study into factors affecting the development of diffusive malignant mesothelomia (DMM) showed health risks due to outdoor and indoor exposure to asbestos. It has to be investigated whether or not these findings are confirmed by international indoor and outdoor measurements of asbestos concentrations and our own and international lung tissue fibre analyses. Compared to the general population a significantly increased risk could be shown both in terms of a cumulative dose of about one fibre-year and of an amphibole fibre concentration L greater than or equal to 5 mu m in the lung tissue of 100 000 fibres per gram dry (F/g(tr)). A cumulative dose of this quantity must be due to the inhalation of considerably more than 1000 F/m(3) over a longer period of time. Even in the vicinity of asbestos cement facades or in areas of concentration, outdoor measurements do not normally reveal asbestos concentrations of this extent. Relatively high concentrations in the neighbourhood of industrial emitters are more likely to cause such results. Sometimes increased asbestos concentrations much greater than 1000 F/m(3) are found in buildings with poorly bound asbestos-containing products such as injected insulating layers and fire protection plates. If these products are protected from damage, the occurrence of hazardous concentrations can be largely avoided. Lacking risk awareness in the past, however, may have been the reason for increased risks particularly in connection with repair work and maintenance. Asbestos exposure due to thermal storage heating stoves seems to be less critical. Yet special risks may occur when women are handling contaminated working clothes of their husbands at home. Lung tissue fibre analyses showed clearly increased amphibole fibre concentrations L greater than or equal to 5 mu m >1 million F/g(tr) for four DMM-patients without occupational asbestos exposure. Family members of two of them were working with asbestos and additionally one of them suffered from a neighbourhood exposure. Two others turned out only to be exposed at home by a thermal storage heating stove respectively by an asbestos cement facade. Chrysotile fibre concentrations of greater than or equal to 1 million F/g dry were found for three other patients with a neighbourhood exposure. International publications speak of increased asbestos fibre concentrations in the lung tissue particularly in cases where there is a neighbourhood exposure or an exposure by clothes of family members.