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Asbestos: Selected Cancers
TABLE 5.1 Pulmonary Diseases Associated with Exposure to Asbestos Fibers
Disease
Humans
Animal Models
Asbestosis (diffuse interstitial fibrosis)
+
+
Carcinoma of the lung
+
+
Nonneoplastic pleural disease:
Pleural effusion
+
+
Visceral pleural fibrosis
+
+
Parietal pleural plaques
+
+
Malignant mesothelioma of the pleura and peritoneum
+
+
SOURCE: Adapted from Bernstein et al. (2005).
fuse interstitial fibrosis) of the lungs and visceral pleural fibrosis and parietal pleural plaques of the pleural linings (Table 5.1). In the pleura, bilateral and symmetric fibrotic plaques usually reflect environmental or occupational exposure to asbestos fibers, and consequently pleural plaques are considered to be markers of asbestos exposure (Travis et al. 2002). These fibrous scars are not precursors of malignant mesothelioma or lung cancer.
Risk Factors for Lung Cancer and Malignant Mesothelioma
Tobacco-smoking is a major causal risk factor for lung cancer (Table 5.2) and risk of developing lung cancer in current or former smokers is greatly increased by exposure to asbestos fibers. Development of malignant mesothelioma of the pleura or peritoneum has not been found to be associated with tobacco-smoking (Battifora and McCaughey 1995). Exposure to
TABLE 5.2 Risk Factors for Development of Lung Cancer
