The health risks to humans from exposure to ‘‘pure’’ short-fibre chrysotile, the most common form of asbestos, have been the subject of considerable debate. Identification of three cohorts of miners and millers exposed to amphibole-free short-fibre chrysotile has enabled this issue to be addressed. The findings detailed in this report strongly suggest that none of the exposed workers, or others exposed para-occupationally or environmentally to the same form of asbestos, display any asbestos-related disease.
UICC Working group on asbestos and cancer: Report and recommendations of the Working Group convened under the auspices of the geographical pathology committee of the international union against cancer: Arch Environ Health 1965;1:221-229.
2.
Ilgren E.: Coalinga fibre - a short, amphibole - free chrysotile. Part 6 Lack of amphibole asbestos contamination: Indoor Built Environ2004;13:325-341.
3.
Ilgren E.: The fiber length of Coalinga chrysotile: Enhanced clearance due to its short nature in aqueous solution with a brief critique on ‘‘short-fiber toxicity’’: Indoor Built Environ2008;17:5-26.
4.
Ilgren E.: The fiber width of Coalinga chrysotile: Reduced respirability due to its thick nature in an aerosol and its ‘‘ultra-thin’’ nature in aqueous solution (In Vivo): Indoor Built Environ2008;17:27-41.
5.
Ilgren E.: Coalinga chrysotile: Dissolution, concentration, regulation and general relevance : Indoor Built Environ2008;17:42-57.
6.
Ilgren E., Chatfield E.: Coalinga fibre: a short amphibole-free chrysotile. 1. Evidence for lack of fibrogenic activity: Indoor Built Environ1997;6:264-276.
7.
Ilgren E., Chatfield E.: Coalinga fibre-a short, amphibole-free chrysotile. Part 2: Evidence for lack of tumourigenic activity: Indoor Built Environ1998;7:18-31.
8.
Ilgren E., Chatfield E.: Coalinga fibre: a short, amphibole-free chrysotile. Part 3: Lack of biopersistance : Indoor Built Environ1998;7:98-109.
9.
Ilgren E.: Coalinga fibre: A short, amphibole-free chrysotile. Part 4: Further evidence for a lack of fibrogenic and tumorigenic activity: Indoor Built Environ2002;11:171-177.
10.
Ilgren E.: Coalinga fibre - a short, amphibole- free chrysotile. Part 7: Additional evidence to support lack of fibrogenic potential: Indoor Built Environ2004;13:375-382.
11.
Egilman D., Roberts S.: Controlled use of asbestos: Int J Occup Environ Health2004;10:99-103.
12.
Hyde D., Myers J.: Correspondence re health status of KCAC mine and mill workers, June 12, 1984 (available from author on request).
13.
Hyde D., Myers J.: Correspondence re health status of KCAC mine and mill workers, February 19, 1988 (available from author on request).
14.
Hyde D., Myers J.: Correspondence re health status of KCAC mine and mill workers, July 31, 1989 (available from author on request).
15.
Kumar S., Myers J.: Correspondence re health status of KCAC mine and mill workers, May 26, 1992 (available from author on request).
16.
Lewinsohn Report: A review of chest radiographs of Calidria Corporation Employees on 12/12/84 (available from author on request).
17.
Barrett Report: Conwed v Union Carbide, 2002 (available from author on request).
18.
Hyde D testimony: in Szabo vs. Bindex et al. December 5, 2003 (available from author on request).
19.
Barrett P testimony: in Conwed v Union Carbide, 2002 (available from author on request).
20.
McDonald A. , McDonald J.: Malignant mesothelioma in North America: Cancer1980;46:1650-1656.
21.
Coleman R.: New Idria serpentinite: A land management dilemma: Environ Eng Geosci1996;2:9-22.
22.
EPA Sunnyvale Community Meeting: 1994. Supplement No. 3 of documents: AR670 AR672 (Administrative record indices) of the Atlas mine area operable unit of the Atlas asbestos company NPL site (available from author on request).
23.
Ries LAG, Eisner MP, Kosary CL, Hankey BF, Miller BA, Clegg L, Edwards BK (eds): SEER Cancer Statistics Review, 1973-1999 . Bethesda, MD, National Cancer Institute, 2002. Available at: http://seer.cancer.gov/csr/1973_1999/
24.
Plumlee G., Morman S., Ziegler T.: The toxicological geochemistry of earth materials: An overview of processes and the interdisciplinary methods used to understand them: Rev Min Geochem2006;64:5-57.
25.
Pan X., Day H., Wang W., Beckett L., Schenker M.: Residential Proximity to naturally occurring asbestos and mesothelioma risk inCalifornia: Amer J Resp Crit Care Med2005;172:1019-1025.
26.
Waggoner v Raybestos Manhattan et al., 1997. Sup. Court Calif. #005856 (available from author on request).
27.
LA Times ‘‘Under a cloud’’ (September 25, 2004) home edition.
28.
Ilgren E., Browne K.: Asbestos-related mesothelioma: Evidence for a threshold in humans and animals : Reg Tox Pharm1991;13:116-132.
29.
Goff A., Gaensler E.: Asbestosis following brief exposure in cigarette filter manufacture. Case report from the thoracic services of the Boston university medical school : Respiration1972;29:83-93.
30.
Weiss W.: Asbestosis: a marker for the increased risk of lung cancer among workers exposed to asbestos: Chest1999;115:536-553.
31.
Bernstein DM , Chevalier J., Smith P.: Comparison of Calidria chrysotile asbestos to pure tremolite: Inhalation biopersistence and histopathology following short-term exposure: Inhal Tox2003;15:1387-1419.
32.
Bernstein D. , Chevalier J., Smith P.Comparison of Calidria chrysotile asbestos to pure tremolite: Final results of the inhalation biopersistence and histopathology following short term exposure: Inhal Tox2005 ;17:427-449.
33.
Cooper W., Murchio J., Popendorf W., Wenk H.: Chrysotile asbestos in a California recreational area: Science1979;206:685-688.
34.
Baxter D.: Final report - Ambient asbestos concentrations in California. Volume I. Submitted by Science Applications, Inc. to CARB. Contract number AO-103-32. December 1, 1983 (available from author on request).
35.
Lanphear B. , Buncher R.: Latent period for malignant mesothelioma of occupational origin: J. Occup. Environ Med. 1992;34:718-721.
36.
Berry G., de Klerk N., Reid A., Ambrosini G., Fritschi L., Olsen N., Merler E., Musk A.: Malignant pleural and peritoneal mesotheliomas in former miners and millers of crocidolite at Wittenoom, Western Australia: Occup Environ Med2004;61(4):e14 ( http://www.occenvmed.com/cgi/content/full/61/4/e14).
37.
Davis F.: Economic mineral deposits in the coast ranges. Geology of Northern California. Bulletin 190: California Division of Mines and Geology; 1966:315-322 (available from author on request).
38.
Divine BJ, Hartman CM: Update of a study of crude oil production workers 1946-94: Occup Environ Med2000;57:411-417.
39.
Ilgren E.: Coalinga chrysotile - The case of the missing ‘‘asbestos study’’: Corporate connivance or plaintiff ploy?Indoor Built Environ2004;13:357-373.
40.
Churchill R., Hill R.: A general location guide for ultramafic rocks in California: areas more likely to contain naturally occurring asbestos. CA Department of Conservation, Division of Mines and Geology, DMG Open-File Report 2000-19 (http://www.consrv.ca.gov/).
41.
Crapo, Affidavit: Exposure to Calidria asbestos and other forms of asbestos and their roles in disease causation. April 16, 2003 (available from author on request).
42.
Schenker M testimony: in Sierra Terra v CARB et al. 2006:127-128 (available from author on request).
43.
Schenker National Cancer Institute Project Grant: IR03CA81615-01 ‘‘Mesothelioma in California’’, 1990(available from author on request).
44.
Woodward Clyde Consultants (WCC) and Camp Dresser & Mc Kee: ‘‘Draft Regional Study of Mining Disturbances of Asbestos- Bearing Material in the New Idria - Coalinga- Table Mountain study region - Performance of Remedial Response activities at Uncontrolled Hazardous Waste Sites: under EPA Contract No. 68 - 01 - 6939 (February 28, 1989) (available from author on request).
45.
Crapo J., Barry B., Brody A., O’Neil J.: Morphological, morphometric and X-ray microanalytical studies on lung tissue of rats exposed to chrysotile asbestos in inhalation chambers: in ‘‘Biological effects of mineral fibers’’ (Report on a WHO/IARC meeting), Copenhagen, 20-22 April 1982. Annex1980;l:273-283.
46.
Pinkerton K., Pratt C., Brody AR, Crapo JD: Lung injury patterns in rats as a result of exposure to different chrysotile asbestos fibers. Abstract - 1982 ATS Kansas Mtg pg 250 (Environmental and Occupational Health section: 1982; 1 page) (available from author on request) .
47.
Pinkerton K., Pratt C., Crapo J.Morphologic lung capacity following exposure to chrysotile asbestos fibers. Abstract - 1982 ATS Kansas Mtg pg 251 (Environmental and Occupational Health section: 1982; 1 page) (available from author on request).
48.
O’Neil J., Pinkerton K., Crapo J.Lung volume changes in rats exposed to chrysotile asbestos. Abstract. 1982 ATS Kansas Mtg pg 146 (Environmental and Occupational Health section: 1982; 1 page) (available from author on request).
49.
Crapo J testimony: in Monongalia Co., W. Va. March 17, 1992 (available from author on request).
50.
NTP Sixth Annual Report on Carcinogens. Research Triangle Park, NC: National Toxicology Program, 1991.
51.
NTP Tech Report 295: Toxicology and carcinogenesis of chrysotile asbestos in F344/ N Rats, 1982 (available from author on request).
52.
NTP Tech Report 246: Toxicology and carcinogenesis of chrysotile asbestos in Syrian Golden Hamsters. DHSS, 1982 (available from author on request).
53.
McConnell E. , Shefner A., Rust J., Moore J.: Chronic effects of dietary exposure to amosite and chrysotile asbestos in Syrian golden hamsters: Environ Health Perspect1983;53:11-25.
54.
Truhaut R., Chouroulinkov I.: Effect of long-term ingestion of asbestos fibers in rats: in Bignon J, Peto J, Saracci R (eds): Non Occupational Exposure to Mineral Fibers,) Lyon, IARC Sci. Pub. 90, 1989: 127-135.
55.
Crapo J.: Final report - ‘‘Morphometric studies on the lungs of rats exposed by inhalation to mineral fibers’’ N01-ES-0-0004 (April 9, 1984) (10 pages) (available from author on request).
56.
NTP Annual Report 1982 (available from author on request).
57.
NTP Annual Report 1983 (available from author on request).
58.
Ilgren E testimony: in Conwed v Union Carbide Corp. Case No. 5-92-88. 11 September, 2002. US District Court, St. Paul, MN (available from author on request).
59.
West Virginia Mass Consolidation v Union Carbide Corporation (available from author on request).
60.
Kelly Moore Paint Company v Union Carbide Corp., 23rd District Court, Brazoria County, TX. Trial Court Cause No. 19785-BH02, 2004 (available from author on request).
61.
Egilman, D testimony: in Lustgarten v A W Chesterton et al. March 26, 2004.
62.
Murphy R., Becklake M., Brooks S., Gaensler E., Gee B., Goldman A., Kleinerman J., Lewinsohn H., Mitchell R., Utell M., Weill H.: The diagnosis of nonmalignant diseases related to asbestos: Amer Rev Resp Dis1986;134:363-368.
63.
Mellon Institute: Report No. 34-70 produced for the Union Carbide company, 1971 (accessed from Union Carbide on request).
64.
American Thoracic Society: Diagnosis and initial management of nonmalignant diseases related to asbestos: Am J Resp Crit Care Med2004;170:691-715.
65.
Hoskins J.: Eliminating the confusion: in Hoskins JA, Kummer HW, Solèr M (eds): Pathogenesis, Diagnosis and Clinical Relevance of Pleural Plaques, New York, Karger , 1997, pp. 12-23.
66.
Stephens M. , Gibbs AR, Pooley FD, Wagner JC: Asbestos induced diffuse pleural fibrosis: Pathology and mineralogy: Thorax1987;42:583-588.
67.
Ilgren E testimony: in Conwed v UCC 1998 (available from author on request).
68.
Egilman D.: Testimony to NIOSH - Public meeting on asbestos and other mineral fibers: A roadmap for scientific research NIOSH Docket No. NIOSH - 099. May 4, 2007.
69.
Crapo J testimony: in Fernandez v Union Carbide et al. Civil Action No. 02-21136, September 12, 2003. (available from author on request).
70.
McConnell EE , Wagner JC, Skidmore JW, Moore JA: A comparative study of the fibrogenic and carcinogenic effects of UICC Canadian chrysotile B asbestos and glass microfibre (JM 100): in Biological Effects of Man-made Mineral Fibres (Report on a WHO/IARC meeting), Copenhagen, April 20-22, 1982 (Annex 1984;45:234-242).
71.
NIEHS Memo: January 3, 1985 Boorman, G, NTP to Eustis, S, EPL cc Dr Mc Connell (available from author on request).
72.
NIEHS Memo: July 3, 1985 re ‘NTP asbestos’ - ‘Northrop laboratory’ requesting the ‘‘Release’’ of study materials by Dr G Boorman (available from author on request).
73.
NIEHS Memo: March 11, 1993: from Non Key employee EPL to Lily Hong NIEHS acknowledging return of study materials to NIEHS (available from author on request).
74.
NIEHS Memo: January 3, 1985 Boorman, G to Cozart, L, NIEHS, NIEHS (available from author on request).
75.
NIEHS Memo: March 12, 1993. Dr. Scott Eustis to Annette Shambley, a ‘‘Non-Key Contract Employee.’’ ‘‘Delivery Slip’’ from EPL Annette Shambley to Lily Hong, NTP (available from author on request).