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De Sociaal-Economische Raad heeft advies uitgebracht over een nieuw grenswaardenstelsel voor gevaarlijke stoffen, waaronder asbest. Belangrijkste winstpunt: meer duidelijkheid. Wanneer de overheid het SER-advies overneemt, weet een werknemer straks beter dan nu wanneer zijn gezondheid risico loopt. Nu wordt de grens (of MAC-waarde) de ene keer vastgesteld op basis van het gezondheidskundige risico en de andere keer op basis van de technische of economische haalbaarheid van de norm. Bron: Arbobondgenoten.nl, SER, 16 juni 2005.

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Het jaarverslag 2004 en het verslag van het lustrumcongres van 26 januari jl. zijn eind juni uitgegeven in twee boekjes die u kosteloos bij het secretariaat kunt bestellen of van de website www.asbestslachtoffers.nl kunt downloaden. In het jaarverslag vindt u o.a. bijdragen over de medische, juridische en epidemiologische ontwikkelingen op het gebied van asbest en gezondheidsschade. Op 26 januari 2005 organiseerde het IAS een lustrumcongres in de Raadszaal van de Sociaal-Economische Raad. Het congres schonk aandacht aan de ervaringen van het IAS in de afgelopen vijf jaar en aan belangrijke ontwikkelingen op het gebied van de gevolgen van asbestblootstelling.

Download jaarverslag 2004

Download lustrumcongresverslag 26/1/2005

Toezichthouders asbestsloop (DTA’ers) komen soms in de knel door de druk van aannemers om het werk sneller af te maken. Dat gaat volgens een rapport van de Inspectie Werk en Inkomen (IWI) ten koste van de veiligheid van werknemers en omgeving.

Bron: Persbericht Inspectie Werk en Inkomen, 3 mei

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Alpha-TOS, een soort vitamine E, heeft in experimenten met muizen mesothelioomkankercellen gedood en de groei van tumoren tegengehouden, zegt de Australische celbioloog Dr. Neuzil. Hij hoopt dat het middel over ongeveer 2 jaar bij mensen kan worden getest.

Bron: The Courier Mail, Daily Telegraph, 23 mei 2005.

The Courier Mail (Queensland, Australia)

May 23, 2005 Monday

HEADLINE: Vitamin cancer treatment hope

BODY:

A VITAMIN E-related compound may kill deadly cancer cells caused by asbestos exposure, says an Australian cell biologist who has already established its success in trials using mice.

Gold Coast-based Griffith University researcher Jiri Neuzil said alpha-TOS, which is closely related to vitamin E, killed mesothelioma cancer cells in experiments with mice.

Most victims of mesothelioma, an aggressive cancer that destroys a protective membrane covering internal organs including the lungs, have inhaled asbestos particles.

Dr Neuzil said alpha-TOS also halted growth of mesothelioma tumours, for which there is currently no cure, under a five-year study involving researchers from Australia, Italy and the Czech Republic.

He said the compound had also showed hints of suppressing breast cancer, melanoma, lung cancer and colon cancer tumours in animal experiments. Dr Neuzil said alpha-TOS would ultimately be put to the test in human trials, which he hoped to begin within two years.

Alpha-TOS was selective because it pursued mesothelioma cancer cells but caused only minor damage, if any, to normal cells in mice, he said.

Dr Neuzil said he stumbled on the compound’s promising qualities “by mistake five years ago.

In de West-australische plaats Wittenoom werd van 1943 tot 1966 het gevaarlijke blauwe asbest gewonnen (crocidoliet). In 2002 werden 1885 inwoners, waarvan 1042 (ex-)werknemers onderzocht op asbestose (stoflongen) en bepaalde vitamine-niveaus in het bloed (retinol, caroteen en vitamine E). De onderzoekers vonden een relatie tussen chronisch lagere vitamine-niveaus en een grotere kans om aan asbestose te overlijden. Van de onderzoeksgroep overleden 76 personen aan asbestose, een te kleine groep om causaliteit te kunnen bepalen. Meer onderzoek is nodig.

Bron: Alfonso, H.S. et al. (2005). Plasma Concentrations of Retinol, Carotene, and Vitamin E and Mortality in Subjects With Asbestosis in a Cohort Exposed to Crocidolite in Wittenoom, Western Australia. Journal of occupational and environmental medicine. vol. 47, afl. 6, pag. 573-579 (7)

Alfonso, Helman S.. Fritschi, Lin. de Klerk, Nicholas H.. Ambrosini, Gina. Beilby, John. Olsen, Nola. Musk, A William (2005). Plasma Concentrations of Retinol, Carotene, and Vitamin E and Mortality in Subjects With Asbestosis in a Cohort Exposed to Crocidolite in Wittenoom, Western Australia. Journal of occupational and environmental medicine. vol. 47, afl. 6, pag. 573-579 (7).

Abstract

Objective:We sought to examine the relationships between plasma concentrations of retinol, carotene, and vitamin E and mortality associated with asbestosis in people previously exposed to crocidolite.

Methods:Cox regression modeling was applied to examine these relationships at the first measurement of each vitamin, at the measurement at each visit, and with the rate of change of each vitamin during the follow-up.

Results:There were 76 deaths of people with asbestosis during the follow-up period and 1885 subjects censored. Mortality in subjects with asbestosis was inversely related to plasma levels of retinol and Vitamin E concentrations and to their rate of increase during the follow-up. Carotene concentrations at first visit were associated with lower mortality but not during the follow up period.

Conclusions:Chronically low levels of these vitamins are associated with an increased risk of dying with asbestosis.

Asbest bestaat uit microscopisch kleine vezels. Er zijn verschillende soorten, onderverdeeld in serpentijnen en amfibolen. Serpentijnen hebben gekrulde vezels, de vezels van amfibolen hebben de vorm van staafjes en zijn gevaarlijker. Een groep ratten werd gedurende 5 dagen herhaaldelijk blootgesteld aan een groot aanta calidria chrysotiel vezels (serpentijn), een andere groep aan een aantal tremolietvezels (amfibool). Tot één jaar na de proef werd bij de ratten die aan chrysotiel waren blootgesteld geen ontstekingsreactie gezien. Dit in tegenstelling tot de aan tremoliet blootgestelde ratten die sterk reageerden, ondanks blootstelling aan 16 x minder vezels dan de aan chrysotiel blootgestelde ratten. Bernstein, D. et. al., (2005). Comparison of Calidria Chrysotile Asbestos to Pure Tremolite : Final Results of the Inhalation Biopersistence and Histopathology Examination Following Short-Term Exposure. Inhalation toxicology. vol. 17, afl. 9, pag. 427-450 (24).
Bernstein, David. Chevalier, Jörg. Smith, Paul (2005). Comparison of Calidria Chrysotile Asbestos to Pure Tremolite : Final Results of the Inhalation Biopersistence and Histopathology Examination Following Short-Term Exposure. Inhalation toxicology. vol. 17, afl. 9, pag. 427-450 (24).

Abstract:

Calidria chrysotile asbestos, which is a serpentine mineral, has been shown to be considerably less biopersistent than the durable amphibole mineral tremolite asbestos, which persists once deposited in the lung. The initial results of this inhalation biopersistence study in rats that demonstrates this difference were reported in Bernstein et al. (2003). This article presents the full results through 1 yr after cessation of the 5-day exposure. This study was based upon the recommendations of the European Commission (EC) Interim Protocol for the Inhalation Biopersistence of synthetic mineral fibers (Bernstein & Riego-Sintes, 1999). In addition, the histopathological response in the lung was evaluated following exposure. In order to quantify the dynamics and rate by which these fibers are removed from the lung, the biopersistence of a sample of commercial-grade chrysotile from the Coalinga mine in New Idria, CA, of the type Calidria RG144 and that of a long-fiber tremolite were studied. For synthetic vitreous fibers, the biopersistence of the fibers longer than 20 µm has been found to be directly related to their potential to cause disease. This study was designed to determine lung clearance (biopersistence) and the histopathological response. As the long fibers have been shown to have the greatest potential for pathogenicity, the aerosol generation technique was designed to maximize the number of long respirable fibers. The chrysotile samples were specifically chosen to have 200 fibers/cm 3 longer than 20 µm in length present in the exposure aerosol. These longer fibers were found to be largely composed of multiple shorter fibrils. The tremolite samples were chosen to have 100 fibers/cm 3 longer than 20 µm in length present in the exposure aerosol. Calidria chrysotile has been found to be one of the most rapidly cleared mineral fibers from the lung. The fibers longer than 20 µm in length are cleared with a half-time of 7 h. By 2 days postexposure all long fibers have dissolved/disintegrated into shorter pieces. The fibers between 5 and 20µm in length were cleared with a half-time of 7 days. This length range represents a transition zone between those fibers that can be fully phagocytosed and cleared as particles and the longer fibers that cannot be fully engulfed by the macrophage. The fibers/objects shorter than 5 µm in length were cleared with a half-time of 64 days, which is faster than that reported for insoluble nuisance dusts such as TiO 2 . By 12 months postexposure, 99.92% of all the remaining chrysotile was less than 5 µm in length. Following the 5 days of repeated exposure to more than 48,000 chrysotile fibers/cm 3 (190 fibers L > 20 µm), histopathological examination revealed no evidence of any inflammatory reaction either after the cessation of the last exposure or at any time during the subsequent 12-mo period. This is in marked contrast to the amphibole tremolite, which was also investigated using the same inhalation biopersistence protocol. The long tremolite fibers, once deposited in the lung, remain over the rat’s lifetime with essentially an infinite half-time. Even the shorter fibers, following early clearance, also remain with no dissolution or further removal. At 365 days postexposure, there was a mean lung burden was of 0.5 million fibers L > 20 µm and 7 million fibers 5-20 µm in length with a total mean lung burden of 19.6 million fibers. The tremolite exposed rats, even with exposure to 16 times fewer total fibers than chrysotile, showed a pronounced inflammatory response with the rapid development of granulomas as seen at day 1 postexposure, followed by the development of fibrosis characterized by collagen deposition within these granulomas and by 90 days even mild interstitial fibrosis. With the short exposure, this study was not designed specifically to evaluate pathological response. however, it is quite interesting that even so there was such a marked response with tremolite. These findings provide an important basis for substantiating both kinetically and pathologically the differences between chrysotile and the amphibole tremolite. As Calidria chrysotile has been certified to have no tremolite fiber, the results of the current study together with the results from toxicological and epidemiological studies indicate that this fiber is not associated with lung disease.

Nog steeds is niet helemaal duidelijk hoe asbest kanker veroorzaakt. Men denkt dat ijzer daarbij een rol speelt. De meest gevaarlijke asbestsoorten hebben een relatief hoog ijzergehalte. Baldys en Aust onderzochten de werking van asbestvezels en ijzer op de Epidermale Groei Factor Receptor (EGFR) in menselijke epitheel en mesotheelcellen uit long en longvlies. Zij gebruikten drie soorten asbest, t.w. crocidoliet, amosiet en chrysotiel met respectievelijk 27, 27 en 2% ijzer. Zij vonden dat ingekapselde crocidoliet asbestvezels de EGFR receptor inactiveerden en daarmee indirect de celdeling kunnen ontregelen. IJzer lijkt daarbij een mediërende werking te hebben. Baldys, A. & Aust, A.E. (2005). Role of Iron in Inactivation of Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor after Asbestos Treatment of Human Lung and Pleural Target Cells. American journal of respiratory cell and molecular biology. vol. 32, afl. 5, pag. 436-442 (7).
American Journal of Respiratory Cell and Molecular Biology. Vol. 32, pp. 436-442, 2005

Abstract

Although the mechanism by which asbestos causes cancer remains unknown, iron associated with asbestos is thought to play a role in the pathogenic effects of fibers. Here, we examined the effects of asbestos on the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) in human lung epithelial (A549) cells, human pleural mesothelial (MET5A) cells, and normal human small airway epithelial (SAEC) cells. Treatment of A549, MET5A, and SAEC cells with asbestos caused a significant reduction of EGFR tyrosine phosphorylation. This was both time- (15 min to 24 h) and concentration-dependent (1.5, 3, and 6 µg/cm2) in A549 cells. Also, treatment with 6 µg/cm2 crocidolite for 24 h diminished the phosphorylation levels of human EGFR 2 (HER2). Exposure of A549 cells to 6 µg/cm2 crocidolite for 3–24 h resulted in no detectable Y1045 phosphorylation and no apparent degradation of the EGFR. Inhibition of fiber endocytosis resulted in a considerable inhibition of EGFR dephosphorylation. Removal of iron from asbestos by desferrioxamine B or phytic acid inhibited asbestos-induced decreases in EGFR phosphorylation. The effects of crocidolite, amosite, and chrysotile on the EGFR phosphorylation state appeared to be directly related to the amount of iron mobilized from these fibers. These results strongly suggest that iron plays an important role in asbestos-induced inactivation of EGFR.

De vraag of longkanker door asbest is veroorzaakt terwijl er geen sprake is van asbestose, blijft controversieel. Dit concluderen Engelse onderzoekers na analyse van 9 epidemiologische artikelen. De momenteel beschikbare technische middelen bieden niet voldoende mogelijkheden om dit te onderzoeken. Waarschijnlijk is het type asbestvezel van belang, concluderen Engelse en Amerikaanse onderzoekers.

Bron: Thorax. vol. 60 (2005), afl. 5, pag. 433-436 (4)

Asbestos, asbestosis, and lung cancer : a critical assessment of the epidemiological evidence

Hessel, P.A.. Gamble, J.F.. Mcdonald, J.C. / In: Thorax. vol. 60 (2005), afl. 5, pag. 433-436 (4)

The question of whether lung cancer can be attributed to asbestos exposure in the absence of asbestosis remains controversial. Nine key epidemiological papers are reviewed in a point/counterpoint format, giving the main strengths and limitations of the evidence presented. Of the nine papers, two concluded that asbestosis was necessary and seven that it was not. However, the study design, nature and circumstances of exposure and method of analysis of the studies differed considerably, and none was considered definitive. It is concluded that, because of the relative insensitivity of chest radiography and the uncertain specificity of findings from histological examinations or computed tomography, it is unlikely that epidemiology alone can put either the strict scientific or practical medicolegal questions beyond doubt. It is probable that the issue may depend critically on asbestos fibre type, an aspect not so far addressed.

Jan de Wit (SP) stelde kamervragen over het nieuwe geneesmiddel Alimta voor de behandeling van mesothelioom (longvlies-/buikvlieskanker) ook wel asbestkanker genoemd. Behandeling met dit medicijn kost ca. 20.000 euro per kuur. Momenteel is er een discussie gaande of dit medicijn verstrekt moet worden en wie deze behandeling moet vergoeden. De Wit wilde van de minister weten of een recent behandeladvies van de vereniging voor longartsen betekent dat de verstrekking van Alimta tot de gebruikelijke zorg gerekend kan worden. Medicijnen die tot de gebruikelijke zorg horen moeten worden verstrekt aan patiënten die dit nodig hebben. Hoogervorst antwoordde dat het niet aan hem, maar aan de beroepsgroep is om te bepalen of Alimta tot de gebruikelijke zorg hoort. Wel gaat hij ervan uit dat longartsen het behandeladvies zwaar laten wegen.

Bron: Parlando, 1826, 13 juni

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Vergoeding van schade die voor veel mensen is ontstaan na een ramp of calamiteit door een of enkele veroorzakers kan binnenkort eenvoudiger worden afgewikkeld. De Eerste Kamer heeft op 22 juni ingestemd met het wetsvoorstel “Collectieve afwikkeling massaschade”. De wet zal op 1 augustus 2005 in werking treden.

Bron: ministerie van justitie, 22 juni

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