US EPA

6880218 

Journal Article 

Abstract 

Mesotheliomas following exposure to asbestos used in sugar refineries: Report of 18 cases 

Panetta, A; Amaducci, E; Arigliano, V; Maccaferri, R; Pajetta, V; Gambini, S 

2006 

Yes 

Annals of Oncology
ISSN: 0923-7534
EISSN: 1569-8041 

17 

Suppl. 11 

XI85 

English 

WOS:000242379800330 

https://doi.org/10.1093/annonc/mdl367
Exit
 

The sugar refinery industry has long been widely diffused in Italy, particu1arly in the Emilia Romagna region, where the production of sugar-beet is largely practised. Asbestos have been massively used for the insulation of thermo-hydraulic systems and for the furnaces of sugar refinery plants. Therefore employees working in the sugar refinery industry, and particularly those engaged in the running and maintenance of thermo-hydraulic systems, have been potentially exposed to asbestos for a long time. The exposure to these fibres, however, is not limited to these workers. Family members of sugar refinery industry workers and people living in areas neighbouring the sugar refinery plants must also be considered potentially exposed to asbestos. Eighteen Italian cases of mesothelioma were reported (all the cases but two from the Emilia Romagna region), following exposure to asbestos used in sugar refinery plants. Sixteen cases arose in workers occupationally exposed and two in the daughter of an exposed worker, following family contact. The fact that 16 of the 18 cases here reported arc located in the Emilia-Romagna region is probably due to two factors: the highest concentration of sugar refinery plants in this region and the specific scientific interest of our and other institutions. Our cases demonstrating the carcinogenic risk of asbestos used in sugar refinery plants, in no way provide the real dimension of the risk. The series of cases include, in fact, only anecdotal clinical observations of mesothelioma. In order to provide, in quantitative terms, the total burden of the problem, one must promote systematic analytical, epidemiological investigations on defined and representative occupational cohorts and their family members, dealing with all causes of death, with particular regard to those related to asbestos exposure. Considering the long-lasting latency-period of the disease and the fact that many sugar refinery plants were active until the end of 80s without protection-means, we expel many new cases in the next years. 

8th National Congress of Medical Oncology 

Milan, Italy 

November 18-21, 2006