Mesothelioma associated with commercial use of vermiculite containing Libby amphibole.

Abstract

OBJECTIVES:

To describe asbestos-related mortality among manufacturing workers who expanded and processed Libby vermiculite that contained amphibole fiber.

METHODS:

Standardized mortality ratio was calculated for 465 white male workers 31 years after last Libby vermiculite exposure.

RESULTS:

Two workers died from mesothelioma, resulting in a significantly increased standardized mortality ratio of 10.5 (95% confidence interval, 1.3 to 38.0). These workers were in the upper 10th percentile of cumulative fiber exposure, that is, 43.80 and 47.23 fiber-years/cm, respectively. One additional worker with cumulative fiber exposure of 5.73 fiber-years/cm developed mesothelioma but is not deceased. There were no other significantly increased standardized mortality ratios.

CONCLUSIONS:

Workers expanding and processing Libby vermiculite in a manufacturing setting demonstrated an increased risk for the development of mesothelioma following exposure to the amphibole fiber contained within this vermiculite ore source.

• Authors: Kari K Dunning, Stephen Adjei, Linda Levin, Amy M Rohs, Tim Hilbert, Eric Borton, Vikas Kapil, Carol Rice, Grace K Lemasters, James E Lockey
• Journal: Journal of occupational and environmental medicine (J Occup Environ Med) Vol. 54 Issue 11 Pg. 1359-63 (Nov 2012) ISSN: 1536-5948 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 22544163 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S., Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.)

Chemical References

• Aluminum Silicates
• vermiculite

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adult
• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Aluminum Silicates (adverse effects)
• Cause of Death
• Cohort Studies
• Confidence Intervals
• Extraction and Processing Industry
• Female
• Humans
• Inhalation Exposure (adverse effects)
• Lung Neoplasms (chemically induced, mortality)
• Male
• Mesothelioma (chemically induced, mortality)
• Middle Aged
• Occupational Exposure (adverse effects)
• Respiratory Tract Diseases (chemically induced, mortality)
• Young Adult