Nieuwsarchief

Vijf asbestslachtoffers en drie nabestaanden hebben de Japanse overheid aangeklaagd wegens nalatigheid bij het invoeren van beschermende maatregelen tegen het gebruik van asbest. Zij menen dat de Japanse overheid al 70 jaar op de hoogte is van de gezondheidsrisico’s van asbestblootstelling, naar aanleiding van een onderzoek in de Sennan-regio tussen 1937 en 1940. De overheid wachtte echter veel te lang met de invoering van beschermende maatregelen. De betreffende slachtoffers komen niet in aanmerking voor de financiële compensatie-regeling die de Japanse overheid onlangs afkondigde. Bron: Mainichi Daily News, 26 mei 2006.

Schoonmaakbedrijf Bovis Lend Lease heeft al 5000 claims ontvangen wegens longklachten bij (ex-)werknemers die onvoldoende beschermd waren tegen gevaarlijke stoffen (o.a. asbest) bij de schoonmaak van “Ground Zero” vlak na 11 september 2001. Bron: The Australian, 6 juni 2006.

Harderwijk en Goor, waar op zeer grote schaal asbest in het milieu terecht is gekomen, krijgen hulp van het rijk bij de sanering. Die toezegging deed staatssecretaris Van Geel op 31 mei in de Vaste Kamercommissie voor VROM. Dat er grote bedragen zijn gemoeid met de sanering blijkt uit een onderzoek van de provincie Gelderland, dat de saneringskosten voor Harderwijk en

Berkelland heeft geraamd op honderd miljoen. Deskundigen verschillen van mening over de gevaren die de asbestwegen op dit moment voor de volksgezondheid geven. TNO-onderzoeker drs. Peter Tromp meent dat alle asbestwegen onmiddellijk moeten worden afgesloten. Gelders milieugedeputeerde René van Diessen vindt dat “draconische maatregelen” die voor een deel van de wegen niet direct nodig zijn. Het verschil tussen de asbestwegen in Harderwijk en Twente is dat in Twente het asbest-afval op de wegen werd gestort. Dat levert in droge periodes stofwolken op met kankerverwekkende asbestvezels. Op de Veluwe werd het asbestafval vaak afgedekt met een laag zand. Bron: De Stentor, 31 mei 2006.

Hagemeyer beschrijft in dit overzichtsartikel de Duitse geschiedenis en huidige situatie inzake asbestgebruik, blootstelling en asbestziekten. Duitsland was het eerste land dat in 1930 longkanker in combinatie met asbestose als een beroepsziekte erkende. Bron: Hagemeyer, O., Otten, H. & Kraus, T. (2006). Asbestos consumption, asbestos exposure and asbestos-related occupational diseases in Germany. Int Arch Occup Environ Health.

Hagemeyer, O., Otten, H. & Kraus, T. (2006). Asbestos consumption, asbestos exposure and asbestos-related occupational diseases in Germany. Int Arch Occup Environ Health, DOI 10.1007/s00420-006-00.

Abstract. Like in most industrial countries, asbestos is a leading cause of occupational diseases, especially malignant diseases, in Germany. Following the increased consumption of asbestos after World War I, the recognition of asbestos related diseases developed. At the end of the 1930s, Germany was the first country to accept lung cancer in combination with asbestosis as an occupational disease and to initiate the endeavor for reduction of asbestos dust exposure. Nevertheless after World War II the usage of asbestos increased dramatically. The ban of asbestos first came into force in 1993. Until this time several hundreds of thousands of workers had inhaled asbestos and the number of asbestos related

diseases increased. In this review the history and current status on asbestos consumption, asbestos exposure and asbestos related occupational diseases in Germany is presented

Tussen 1987 en 1992 werd in Finland het ‘Asbest Programma’ ingevoerd. Dit bestond uit 27 maatregelen die erop gericht waren de risico’s van asbestblootstelling zoveel mogelijk te beperken. De positieve gezondheidseffecten zijn op dit moment nog niet zichtbaar. Mensen worden namelijk gemiddeld pas 30 tot 40 jaar na de blootstelling aan asbest ziek en de piek in het asbestgebruik vond er in de jaren 70 plaats. In Finland zijn ca. 200.000 mensen in hun werk aan asbest blootgesteld. Momenteel overlijden ca. 150 mensen per jaar aan een vorm van asbestgerelateerde kanker. Bron: Huuskonen MS & Rantanen J. (2006). Finnish Institute of Occupational Health (FIOH): prevention and detection of asbestos-related diseases, 1987-2005. American Journal of Industrial Medicine, mar 49(3):215-20.
Huuskonen MS & Rantanen J. (2006). Finnish Institute of Occupational Health (FIOH): prevention and detection of asbestos-related diseases, 1987-2005. American Journal of Industrial Medicine, mar 49(3):215-20.

BACKGROUND: Between 1987 and 1992, the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health (FIOH) initiated and implemented the Asbestos Program that aimed at reducing asbestos-related risks. It was a cooperative effort between government authorities, labor market organizations, and health care and labor protection personnel.

METHODS: During the Program and its follow-up since 1993 several preventive actions were taken, and considerable new legislation and official instructions were issued.

RESULTS: Approximately 200,000 people in Finland have been exposed to asbestos in their work. Through the cooperative efforts of government, labor, health care and worker protection programs, the import of asbestos was ceased in 1993 with a few exceptions. Almost all imports ceased in 2005 following European Union directives. Regulation of asbestos abatement companies has been greatly increased. The occupational exposure limit has been reduced from 2.0 fibers/cm(3) to the present 0.1 fibers/cm(3). Asbestos-related diseases are closely monitored and education of health care providers regarding the occupational source of these conditions is now emphasized.

CONCLUSIONS: The success of the primary goal of the Program, a reduction in asbestos-related morbidity, will not be fully realized for many decades.

Onderzoek van Wang geeft aanwijzingen dat asbest en roken elk een eigen onafhankelijke schadelijke invloed hebben op de longfunctie.Asbest heeft vooral negatief effect op de longcapaciteit en roken op het vermogen lucht op te nemen. Bron: Wang X, et al..(2006). Adverse effects of asbestos exposure and smoking on lung function. American Journal of Industrial Medicine May.49(5):337-42.
Wang X, Yano E, Wang Z, Wang M, Christiani DC. (2006). Adverse effects of asbestos exposure and smoking on lung function. American Journal of Industrial Medicine May.49(5):337-42.

BACKGROUND: Exposure to asbestos is a well-recognized cause of both malignant and nonmalignant diseases of lung parenchyma and pleura. This study was conducted to determine the adverse effects of exposure to asbestos and smoking on pulmonary function.

METHODS: Four hundred and sixty-eight workers who were occupationally exposed to asbestos for an average of 13 years were selected from an asbestos-product factory in China. Of them, 85 workers were diagnosed with asbestosis. Additionally, 282 workers who had no experience of exposure to industrial dust were included as a control group. A questionnaire was administered during a face-to-face interview and spirometric maneuvers and single-breath CO diffusing capacity (DL(CO)) were performed.

RESULTS: Multivariate regression analysis showed that exposure to asbestos was more strongly associated with decreased forced vital capacity (FVC) and DL(CO), and asbestosis more strongly associated with decreased FVC, while smoking was a major contributing factor to reduced FEV1/FVC. The results were confirmed by a further analysis where the subjects were grouped exclusively by smoking, asbestos exposure, and chest radiographic changes. No interaction or joint effect was observed between asbestos exposure and smoking.

CONCLUSIONS: This analysis suggested that asbestos and smoking might play independent roles, in which asbestos caused mainly a restrictive impairment, and smoking was a major causal factor for airway obstruction in the workers who were intensively exposed to asbestos.

Het Britse “House of Lords” heeft begin mei een ruling afgekondigd die stelt dat asbestslachtoffers of hun nabestaanden alle werkgevers aansprakelijk moeten stellen waar zij mogelijk met asbest in aanraking zijn geweest. Voorheen kon men, net als in Nederland, een volledige schadevergoeding eisen van de zogenaamde “meest gerede werkgever”.Vanaf nu moet deze verdeeld worden over de verschillende werkgevers, gebaseerd op de lengte van de tijd die een werknemer bij de betreffende werkgever aan asbest is blootgesteld. Een werkgever is daarmee uitsluitend aansprakelijk voor het blootstellingsrisico dat hijzelf heeft veroorzaakt. Bron: British Lung Foundation, 4 mei 2006. Meer http://www.lunguk.org/news.asp#202

In Frankrijk overlijden jaarlijks 15.000 mensen aan een vorm van kanker door het werk. In de helft van deze gevallen is asbestblootstelling de oorzaak. Asbest werd in 1997 in Frankrijk verboden. Bron: Europees Vakbondsinstituut Hesa, 13 mei 2006. Meer http://hesa.etui-rehs.org/uk/newsevents/newsfiche.asp?pk=553

Neuberger deed van 1994 tot 1997 onderzoek onder plattelandsvrouwen uit het Amerikaanse middenwesten. Hij vond o.a dat asbestblootstelling een oorzaak geweest kan zijn voor longkanker bij de groep ‘niet rokers’: vrouwen die tijdens hun hele leven minder dan 100 sigaretten of korter dan 6 maanden hadden gerookt. Bron: Neuberger JS, et al. (2006). Risk factors for lung cancer in Iowa women: Implications for prevention. Cancer Detection and Prevention, Mar 30.
Neuberger JS, Mahnken JD, Mayo MS, Field RW (2006). Risk factors for lung cancer in Iowa women: Implications for prevention. Cancer Detection and Prevention, Mar 30.

Background: Multiple risk factors possibly associated with lung cancer were examined as part of a large-scale residential radon case-control study conducted in Iowa between 1994 and 1997. We were particularly interested in stratifying risk factors by smoking status. Relatively little risk factor information is available for Midwestern rural women.

Methods: Four hundred thirteen female lung cancer cases and 614 controls aged 40-84, who were residents of their current home for at least 20 years, were included. Risk factors examined included cigarette smoking, passive smoking, occupation, chemical exposure, previous lung disease, family history of cancer, and urban residence. Multiple logistic regression analysis was conducted after adjusting for age, education, and cumulative radon exposure.

Results: As expected, active cigarette smoking was the major risk factor for lung cancer. While cessation of smoking was significantly associated with a reduced risk for lung cancer, the risk remained significantly elevated for 25 years. Among all cases, asbestos exposure was a significant risk. Among ex-smokers, pack-year history predominated as the major risk. Among never smokers, a family history of kidney or bladder cancer were significant risk factors (OR=7.34, 95% CI=1.91-28.18. and OR=5.02, 95% CI=1.64-15.39, respectively), as was a history of previous lung disease (OR=2.28, 95% CI=1.24-4.18) and asbestos exposure. No statistically significant increase in lung cancer risk was found for occupation or urban residence.

Conclusions: Smoking prevention activities are urgently needed in rural areas of the United States. Relatives of individuals with smoking-related cancers are potentially at increased risk. Genetic risk factors should be more fully investigated in never smokers.

Onderzoeken in de Spaanse deelstaten Catalonië en Navarra hebben aangetoond dat asbestziekten, zoals mesothelioom, er veel vaker voorkomen dan de officiële cijfers aangeven: in Catalonië vier keer zoveel, in Navarra drie keer zo veel. Bronnen: Artieda, L., Beloqui, A. & Lezaun, M. (2005). Cohort of asbestos exposed workers. Navarre (Spain) 1999-2004. Orriols, R. et al. (2006). Reported occupational respiratory diseases in Catalonia. Occupational and Environmental Medicine, n-63 (4), pp. 255-260. Artieda L, Beloqui A, Lezaun M. (2005). Cohort of asbestos exposed workers. Navarre (Spain) 1999-2004] An Sist Sanit Navarra Sep-Dec.28(3):335-44.
Artieda L, Beloqui A, Lezaun M. (2005). Cohort of asbestos exposed workers. Navarre (Spain) 1999-2004] An Sist Sanit Navarra Sep-Dec.28(3):335-44.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The identification of a population cohort of workers exposed to asbestos is important because it facilitates health surveillance, allowing us to fulfil the ethical obligation of recognizing the occupational origin of the illness and contributing to the development of scientific research. The goal of this study is to identify the asbestos exposed workers in Navarre and the success of the health surveillance offer. METHODS: The register of asbestos exposed workers was created in 1999. It includes companies and workers from the national register, the records of the regional institution of occupational health and the data of the occupational health services and the inspectorate of sick leave. The health programme deals with occupational and post-occupational workers. RESULTS: The cohort consists of 2,294 workers, from 33 companies, 40% of whom are active, half work manufacturing motor vehicles, 91% are exposed to chrysotile, 25% exposed to high concentrations (0.20 fibers /cm3 or more for chrysotile or 0.10 fibers /cm3 for others). The 1970s and 1990s were when most workers began to be exposed. Workers who began in the 1940s and 1950s have longer exposure times. Medical surveillance is accepted by 72%, with higher acceptance among those who are active. CONCLUSIONS: The follow-up has allowed us to recognize three times as many cases of pathology for asbestos, in comparison with those declared spontaneously in the eleven years prior to the program, which reflects its importance. The level of acceptance of the surveillance is adapted, given the methodology of the programme.

Orriols R, Costa R, Albanell M, Alberti C, Castejon J, Monso E, Panades R, Rubira N, Zock JP. (2006). Reported occupational respiratory diseases in Catalonia. Occupational and Environmental Medicine,63(4), pp 255-60.

OBJECTIVES: A voluntary surveillance system was implemented in Catalonia (Spain) to ascertain the feasibility, incidence, and characteristics of occupational respiratory diseases and compare them with those of the compulsory official system.

METHODS: In 2002, in collaboration with the Occupational and Thoracic Societies of Catalonia, occupational and chest physicians and other specialists were invited to report, on a bimonthly basis, newly diagnosed cases of occupational respiratory diseases. Information requested on each case included diagnosis, age, sex, place of residence, occupation, suspected agent, and physician’s opinion on the likelihood that the condition was work related. Compulsory official system data derived from statistics on work related diseases for possible disability benefits declared by insurance companies, which are responsible for declaring these diseases to the Autonomous Government of Catalonia.

RESULTS: Of 142 physicians seeing patients with occupational respiratory diseases approached, 102 (74%) participated. Three hundred and fifty nine cases were reported, of which asthma (48.5%), asbestos related diseases (14.5%), and acute inhalations (12.8%) were the most common. Physicians rated 63% of suspected cases as highly likely, 28% as likely, and 8% as low likelihood. The most frequent suspected agents reported for asthma were isocyanates (15.5%), persulphates (12.1%), and cleaning products (8.6%). Mesothelioma (5.9%) was the most frequent diagnosis among asbestos related diseases. The number of acute inhalations reported was high, with metal industries (26%), cleaning services (22%), and chemical industries (13%) being the most frequently involved. The frequency of occupational respiratory diseases recorded by this voluntary surveillance system was four times higher than that reported by the compulsory official system. CONCLUSIONS: The compulsory scheme for reporting occupational lung diseases is seriously underreporting in Catalonia. A surveillance programme based on voluntary reporting by physicians may provide better understanding of the incidence and characteristics of these diseases. Persulphates and cleaning products, besides isocyanates, were the most reported causes of occupational asthma. Metal industries and cleaning services were the occupations most frequently involved in acute inhalations with a remarkably high incidence in our register.