Decades after the dangers of asbestos and its direct link to mesothelioma were made public, researchers are still learning how much damage the mineral causes. Beyond the rare form of cancer that attacks the mesothelium, scientists have found that asbestos also causes lung cancer, asbestosis, and other forms of cancer. Now, a CDC-funded report published in Open Access Government has revealed that the amphibole type of asbestos may play a role in the development of systemic autoimmune diseases (SAID).
Research Suggests that Asbestos Plays a Role in Diseases Beyond Mesothelioma
Brenda Buck is a professor at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and a noted asbestos researcher who has written extensively on the link between asbestos and mesothelioma. She and Jean C. Pfau, a scientific consultant from Montana’s Center for Asbestos-Related Studies, collaborated on a comprehensive review of amphibole asbestos as a public health risk, with a specific focus on autoimmune diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis and lupus.
While confirming the carcinogenic mineral’s direct role in mesothelioma and asbestos-caused cancers of the trachea, bronchus, and lung, the two pointed to a review published in Autoimmunity Reviews that mapped amphibole asbestos exposures in regions such as Libby, Montana, the World Trade Center site in New York, and mining regions of Italy and Australia. These exposures were linked to elevated rates of autoimmune conditions.
Mesothelioma and the Ongoing Burden of Asbestos Exposure
Global mesothelioma death rates have remained steady since 1999, with roughly 30,000 deaths reported each year worldwide. The problem is particularly severe in the United States, where death rates from the rare and deadly asbestos-related disease and other asbestos-related cancers far exceed global averages, and advocates continue to warn that these numbers reveal a serious public health threat that has not been adequately addressed.
The researchers expressed a need for research and action to go beyond the chrysotile asbestos that has been the target of recent bans, saying that leaving amphibole exposure unregulated presents a continued risk of mesothelioma and autoimmune impacts. They point to the significant difference between the structure of chrysotile and amphibole asbestos, and the resulting difference in exposure impact: the odds ratio for being diagnosed with autoimmune diseases was much stronger, indicating a higher risk, when the exposure contained amphibole compared to chrysotile asbestos, yet few studies of asbestos’ dangers make mention of autoimmune diseases.
The more time that goes by, the greater our understanding of the dangers posed by exposure to asbestos. If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease, the Patient Advocates at Mesothelioma.net can help. Contact us today at 1-800-692-8608 to learn more.
