Short reports of several studies carried out in South Africa which have a bearing on the health effects of low exposures to asbestos are presented. It is stressed that the findings refer solely to amphibole asbestos. Average fiber exposure of 1 or less or a cumulative expo sure of > 2-5 fibers/ml years is associated with the development of asbestosis increasing in frequency with residence time.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Cookson, W.O.C., De Klerk, N., Musk, A.W., Glancy, J.J., Armstrong, B., and Hobbs, M. (1986). "The natural history of asbestosis in former Crocidolite workers of Wittenoom Gorge."Am. Rev. Resp. Dis133: 994-998.
2.
Seidman, H., Selikoff, I.J., and Gelb, S.K. (1986). "Mortality experience of amosite asbestos factory workers: Dose-Response relationships 5 to 40 years after short-term work exposure."Am. J. Ind. Med.10: 479-514.
3.
Sluis-Cremer, G.K., Hnizdo, E., and Du Toit, R.S.J. (In press). "The question of an amphibole asbestos threshold exposure for asbestosis assessed by autopsy in South Africa asbestos miners."Ann. Occup. Hygiene.
4.
Sluis-Cremer, G.K. and Hnizdo, E. (1989). "Progression of irregular opacities in asbestos miners."Br. J. Ind. Med.46: 846-852.
5.
Sluis-Cremer, G.K. (In press). "Asbestos disease at low exposures after long residence time."Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci.
6.
Sluis-Cremer, G.K. and Bezuidenhout, B.N. (1989). "Relation between asbestosis and bronchial cancer in amphibole asbestos miners."Br. J. Ind.Med. 46: 537-540.