Annals of Diagnostic Pathology
Volume 10, Issue 4 , Pages 241-250 , August 2006

Mesothelioma in patients with nonoccupational asbestos exposure: An evidence-based approach to causation assessment

  • Alberto M. Marchevsky, MD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author. Tel.: +1 310 423 6611; fax: +1 310 423 6629.
    • ,
  • Philip Harber, MD

      Affiliations

    • Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Department of Family Medicine, UCLA School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA 90024, USA
    • ,
  • Lori Crawford, BS

      Affiliations

    • Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Department of Family Medicine, UCLA School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA 90024, USA
    • ,
  • Mark R. Wick, MD

      Affiliations

    • University of Virginia Health System, Charlottesville, VA 22906, USA

References 

  1. Robinson BW, Lake RA. Advances in malignant mesothelioma. N Engl J Med. 2005;353(15):1591–1603
  2. Robinson BWS, Musk AW, Lake RA. Malignant mesothelioma. Lancet. 2005;397–408
  3. McDonald AD, Fry JS, Woolley AJ, McDonald JC. Dust exposure and mortality in an American factory using chrysotile, amosite, and crocidolite in mainly textile manufacture. Br J Ind Med. 1983;40(4):368–674
  4. McDonald AD, McDonald JC. Malignant mesothelioma in North America. Cancer. 1980;46(7):1650–1656
  5. Marchevsky AM, Wick MR. Current controversies regarding the role of asbestos exposure in the causation of malignant mesothelioma: the need for an evidence-based approach to develop medico-legal guidelines. Ann Diagn Pathol. 2003;7(5):321–332
  6. Churg A. Asbestos-related disease in the workplace and the environment: controversial issues. Monogr Pathol. 1993;(36):54–77
  7. Churg A. Chrysotile, tremolite, and malignant mesothelioma in man. Chest. 1988;93(3):621–628
  8. Dement JM. Carcinogenicity of chrysotile asbestos: evidence from cohort studies. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 1991;31(643):15–23
  9. Langer AM, Nolan RP. Fibre type and burden in parenchymal tissues of workers occupationally exposed to asbestos in the United States. IARC Sci Publ. 1989;(90):330–335
  10. Lemen RA. Chrysotile asbestos as a cause of mesothelioma: application of the Hill Causation Model. Int J Occup Environ Health. 2004;10(2):233–299
  11. McDonald AD. Malignant mesothelioma in Quebec. IARC Sci Publ. 1980;(30):673–680
  12. McDonald JC, McDonald AD. Chrysotile, tremolite and carcinogenicity. Ann Occup Hyg. 1997;41(6):699–705
  13. Roggli VL, Sharma A, Butnor KJ, Sporn T, Vollmer RT. Malignant mesothelioma and occupational exposure to asbestos: a clinico-pathological correlation of 1445 cases. Ultrastruct Pathol. 2002;26(2):55–65
  14. Suzuki Y, Yuen SR. Asbestos fibers contributing to the induction of human malignant mesothelioma. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2002;982:160–176
  15. Craighead JE, Abraham JL, Churg A, et al. The pathology of asbestos-associated diseases of the lungs and pleural cavities: diagnostic criteria and proposed grading schema. Report of the Pneumoconiosis Committee of the College of American Pathologists and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. Arch Pathol Lab Med. 1982;106(11):544–596
  16. Craighead JE, Mossman BT, Bradley BJ. Comparative studies on the cytotoxicity of amphibole and serpentine asbestos. Environ Health Perspect. 1980;34:37–46
  17. Artvinli M, Baris YI. Malignant mesotheliomas in a small village in the Anatolian region of Turkey: an epidemiologic study. J Natl Cancer Inst. 1979;63(1):17–22
  18. Carbone M, Kratzke RA, Testa JR. The pathogenesis of mesothelioma. Semin Oncol. 2002;29(1):2–17
  19. Metintas S, Metintas M, Ucgun I, Oner U. Malignant mesothelioma due to environmental exposure to asbestos: follow-up of a Turkish cohort living in a rural area. [comment] Chest. 2002;122(6):2224–2229
  20. Wassermann M, Wassermann D, Steinitz R, Katz L, Lemesch C. Mesothelioma in children. IARC Sci Publ. 1980;(30):253–257
  21. Anderson HA, Hanrahan LP, Schirmer J, Higgins D, Sarow P. Mesothelioma among employees with likely contact with in-place asbestos-containing building materials. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 1991;643:550–572
  22. Ascoli V, Scalzo CC, Bruno C, et al. Familial pleural malignant mesothelioma: clustering in three sisters and one cousin. Cancer Lett. 1998;130(1-2):203–207
  23. Newhouse ML, Thompson H. Mesothelioma of pleura and peritoneum following exposure to asbestos in the London area. Brit J Ind Med. 1965;22(4):261–269
  24. Cazzadori A, Malesani F, Romeo L. Malignant pleural mesothelioma caused by non-occupational childhood exposure to asbestos. Br J Ind Med. 1992;49(8):599
  25. Dodoli D, Del Nevo M, Fiumalbi C, et al. Environmental household exposures to asbestos and occurrence of pleural mesothelioma. Am J Ind Med. 1992;21(5):681–687
  26. Gibbs AR, Jones JS, Pooley FD, Griffiths DM, Wagner JC. Non-occupational malignant mesotheliomas. IARC Sci Publ. 1989;(90):219–228
  27. Pan X, Day HW, Wang W, Beckett LA, Schenker MB. Residential proximity to naturally occurring asbestos and mesothelioma risk in California. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2005;172(172):1019–1025
  28. Sackett DL. Clinical epidemiology. What, who, and whither. J Clin Epidemiol. 2002;55(12):1161–1166
  29. Sackett DL, Straus SE, Richardson WS, Rosermberg W, Haynes RB. Evidence-based medicine. How to practice and teach EBM. London (United Kingdom): Churchill Livingstone; 2001;
  30. National Library of Medicine. 1-1-2006. Ref Type: internet Communication
  31. TOXLINE. 1-1-2006. Ref Type: internet Communication
  32. Andrion A, Bosia S, Paoletti L, et al. Malignant peritoneal mesothelioma in a 17-year-old boy with evidence of previous exposure to chrysotile and tremolite asbestos. Hum Pathol. 1994;25(6):617–622
  33. Arblaster L, Hatton P, Howel D, Renvoize E, Schweiger M, Swinburne LM. Occupational and environmental links to mesothelioma deaths occurring in Leeds during 1971-1987. J Public Health Med. 1995;17(3):297–304
  34. Armstrong BK, Musk AW, Baker JE, et al. Epidemiology of malignant mesothelioma in Western Australia. Med J Aust. 1984;141(2):86–88
  35. Arul KJ, Holt PF. Mesothelioma possibly due to environmental exposure to asbestos in childhood. Int Arch Occup Environ Health. 1977;40(2):141–143
  36. Ascoli V, Carnovale-Scalzo C, Nardi F, Efrati C, Menegozzo M. A one-generation cluster of malignant mesothelioma within a family reveals exposure to asbestos-contaminated jute bags in Naples, Italy. Eur J Epidemiol. 2003;18(2):171–174
  37. Berry G, Rogers AJ, Pooley FD. Mesotheliomas—asbestos exposure and lung burden. IARC Sci Publ. 1989;(90):486–496
  38. Bianchi C, Brollo A, Miniussi C, Bittesini L. Asbestos exposure in the Monfalcone area. A social and pathological study of 100 autopsy cases. Tumori. 1981;67(4):279–282
  39. Dawson A, Gibbs AR, Pooley FD, Griffiths DM, Hoy J. Malignant mesothelioma in women. Thorax. 1993;48(3):269–274
  40. Dodson RF, O'Sullivan M, Brooks DR, Hammar SP. Quantitative analysis of asbestos burden in women with mesothelioma. Am J Ind Med. 2003;43(2):188–195
  41. Driscoll RJ, Mulligan WJ, Schultz D, Candelaria A. Malignant mesothelioma. A cluster in a native American pueblo. N Engl J Med. 1988;318(22):1437–1438
  42. Edward AT, Whitaker D, Browne K, Pooley FD, Gibbs AR. Mesothelioma in a community in the north of England. Occup Environ Med. 1996;53(8):547–552
  43. Epler GR, Fitz M, Gerald X, Gaensler EA, Carrington CB. Asbestos-related disease from household exposure. Respiration. 1980;39(4):229–240
  44. Fischbein A, Rohl AN. Pleural mesothelioma and neighborhood asbestos exposure. Findings from microchemical analysis of lung tissue. JAMA. 1984;252(1):86–87
  45. Goldberg P, Goldberg M, Marne MJ, Hirsch A, Tredaniel J. Incidence of pleural mesothelioma in New Caledonia: a 10-year survey (1978-1987). Arch Environ Health. 1991;46(5):306–309
  46. Hammar SP, Bockus D, Remington F, Freidman S, LaZerte G. Familial mesothelioma: a report of two families. Hum Pathol. 1989;20(2):107–112
  47. Hansen J, de Klerk NH, Eccles JL, Musk AW, Hobbs MS. Malignant mesothelioma after environmental exposure to blue asbestos. Int J Cancer. 1993;54(4):578–581
  48. Hansen J, de Klerk NH, Musk AW, Hobbs MS. Environmental exposure to crocidolite and mesothelioma: exposure-response relationships. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 1998;157(1):69–75
  49. Heineman EF, Bernstein L, Stark AD, Spirtas R. Mesothelioma, asbestos, and reported history of cancer in first-degree relatives. Cancer. 1996;77(3):549–554
  50. Howel D, Arblaster L, Swinburne L, Schweiger M, Renvoize E, Hatton P. Routes of asbestos exposure and the development of mesothelioma in an English region. Occup Environ Med. 1997;54(6):403–409
  51. Howel D, Gibbs A, Arblaster L, et al. Mineral fibre analysis and routes of exposure to asbestos in the development of mesothelioma in an English region. Occup Environ Med. 1999;56(1):51–58
  52. Inase N, Takayama S, Nakayama M, Miura H, Kimula Y. Pleural mesothelioma after neighborhood exposure to asbestos during childhood. Jpn J Med. 1991;30(4):343–345
  53. Langer AM, Nolan RP, Constantopoulos SH, Moutsopoulos HM. Association of Metsovo lung and pleural mesothelioma with exposure to tremolite-containing whitewash. Lancet. 1987;1(8539):965–967
  54. Li FP, Lokich J, Lapey J, Neptune WB, Wilkins EW. Familial mesothelioma after intense asbestos exposure at home. JAMA. 1978;240(5):467
  55. Lilienfeld DE. Asbestos-associated pleural mesothelioma in school teachers: a discussion of four cases. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 1991;643:454–486
  56. Luce D, Bugel I, Goldberg P, et al. Environmental exposure to tremolite and respiratory cancer in New Caledonia: a case-control study. Am J Epidemiol. 2000;151(3):259–265
  57. Magnani C, Borgo G, Betta GP, et al. Mesothelioma and non-occupational environmental exposure to asbestos. Lancet. 1991;338(8758):50
  58. Magnani C, Terracini B, Ivaldi C, et al. A cohort study on mortality among wives of workers in the asbestos cement industry in Casale Monferrato, Italy. Br J Ind Med. 1993;50(9):779–784
  59. Magnani C, Terracini B, Ivaldi C, Botta M, Mancini A, Andrion A. Pleural malignant mesothelioma and non-occupational exposure to asbestos in Casale Monferrato, Italy. Occup Environ Med. 1995;52(6):362–367
  60. Magnani C, Ivaldi C, Botta M, Terracini B. Pleural malignant mesothelioma and environmental asbestos exposure in Casale Monferrato, Piedmont. Preliminary analysis of a case-control study. Med Lav. 1997;88(4):302–309
  61. Magnani C, Agudo A, Gonzalez CA, et al. Multicentric study on malignant pleural mesothelioma and non-occupational exposure to asbestos. Br J Cancer. 2000;83(1):104–111
  62. Morinaga K, Kohyama N, Yokoyama K, et al. Asbestos fibre content of lungs with mesotheliomas in Osaka, Japan: a preliminary report. IARC Sci Publ. 1989;(90):438–443
  63. Nesti M, Marinaccio A, Chellini E. Malignant mesothelioma in Italy. 1997. Am J Ind Med. 2004;45(1):55–62
  64. Neumann V, Gunthe S, Mulle KM, Fischer M. Malignant mesothelioma—German mesothelioma register 1987-1999. Int Arch Occup Environ Health. 2001;74(6):383–395
  65. Reid G, Kielkowski D, Steyn SD, Botha K. Mortality of an asbestos-exposed birth cohort. A pilot study. S Afr Med J. 1990;78(10):584–586
  66. Rogers A, Nevill M. Occupational and environmental mesotheliomas due to crocidolite mining activities in Wittenoom, Western Australia. Scand J Work Environ Health. 1995;21(4):259–264
  67. Roggli VL, Longo WE. Mineral fiber content of lung tissue in patients with environmental exposures: household contacts vs. building occupants. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 1991;643:511–518
  68. Roggli VL, Pratt PC, Brody AR. Asbestos fiber type in malignant mesothelioma: an analytical scanning electron microscopic study of 94 cases. Am J Ind Med. 1993;23(4):605–614
  69. Roggli VL. Malignant mesothelioma and duration of asbestos exposure: correlation with tissue mineral fibre content. Ann Occup Hyg. 1995;39(3):363–374
  70. Roggli VL, Oury TD, Moffatt EJ. Malignant mesothelioma in women. Anat Pathol. 1997;2:147–163
  71. Roggli VL, Vollmer RT, Butnor KJ, Sporn TA. Tremolite and mesothelioma. Ann Occup Hyg. 2002;46(5):447–453
  72. Rom WN, Hammar SP, Rusch V, Dodson R, Hoffman S. Malignant mesothelioma from neighborhood exposure to anthophyllite asbestos. Am J Ind Med. 2001;40(2):211–214
  73. Ruffie P, Feld R, Minkin S, et al. Diffuse malignant mesothelioma of the pleura in Ontario and Quebec: a retrospective study of 332 patients. J Clin Oncol. 1989;7(8):1157–1168
  74. Sakellariou K, Malamou-Mitsi V, Haritou A, et al. Malignant pleural mesothelioma from nonoccupational asbestos exposure in Metsovo (north-west Greece): slow end of an epidemic?. Eur Respir J. 1996;9(6):1206–1210
  75. Saric M, Vujovic M. Malignant tumors in an area with an asbestos processing plant. Public Health Rev. 1994;22(3-4):293–303
  76. Schneider J, Straif K, Woitowitz HJ. Pleural mesothelioma and household asbestos exposure. Rev Environ Health. 1996;11(1-2):65–70
  77. Schneider J, Rodelsperger K, Bruckel B, Kleineberg J, Woitowitz HJ. Pleural mesothelioma associated with indoor pollution of asbestos. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol. 2001;127(2):123–127
  78. Srebro SH, Roggli VL. Asbestos-related disease associated with exposure to asbestiform tremolite. Am J Ind Med. 1994;26(6):809–819
  79. Srebro SH, Roggli VL, Samsa GP. Malignant mesothelioma associated with low pulmonary tissue asbestos burdens: a light and scanning electron microscopic analysis of 18 cases. Mod Pathol. 1995;8(6):614–621
  80. Stein RC, Kitajewska JY, Kirkham JB, Tait N, Sinha G, Rudd RM. Pleural mesothelioma resulting from exposure to amosite asbestos in a building. Respir Med. 1989;83(3):237–239
  81. Suzuki Y, Yuen SR. Asbestos tissue burden study on human malignant mesothelioma. Ind Health. 2001;39(2):150–160
  82. Viallat JR, Boutin C, Steinbauer J, Gaudichet A, Dufour G. Pleural effects of environmental asbestos pollution in Corsica. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 1991;643:438–443
  83. Yates DH, Corrin B, Stidolph PN, Browne K. Malignant mesothelioma in south east England: clinicopathological experience of 272 cases. Thorax. 1997;52(6):507–512
  84. Yeung P, Rogers A. An occupation-industry matrix analysis of mesothelioma cases in Australia 1980-1985. Appl Occup Environ Hyg. 2001;16(1):40–44
  85. Shuman DW. Expertise in law, medicine, and health care. J Health Polit Policy Law. 2001;26(2):267–290
  86. Brighton B, Bhandari M, Tornetta P, Felson DT. Hierarchy of evidence: from case reports to randomized controlled trials. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 2003;(413):19–24
  87. Dufresne A, Bθgin R, Churg A, Massθ S. Mineral fiber content of lungs in patients with mesothelioma seeking compensation in Quebec. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 1996;153(2):711–718
  88. Bani-Hani KE, Gharaibeh KA. Malignant peritoneal mesothelioma 132. J Surg Oncol. 2005;91(1):17–25
  89. Krimsky S. The weight of scientific evidence in policy and law. Am J Public Health. 2005;(95 Suppl 1):S129–S136
  90. Hollingsworth JG, Lasker EG. The case against differential diagnosis: Daubert, medical causation testimony, and the scientific method. J Health Law. 2004;37(1):85–111
  91. Price B, Ware A. Mesothelioma: risk apportionment among asbestos exposure sources. Risk Anal. 2005;25(4):937–943
  92. Egilman DS, Billings MA. Abuse of epidemiology: automobile manufacturers manufacture a defense to asbestos liability. Int J Occup Environ Health. 2005;11(4):360–371
  93. Asbestos, asbestosis, and cancer: the Helsinki criteria for diagnosis and attribution. Scand J Work Environ Health. 1997;23(4):311–316
  94. Harber P, Shusterman D. Medical causation analysis heuristics. J Occup Environ Med. 1996;38(6):577–586

PII: S1092-9134(06)00084-0

doi: 10.1016/j.anndiagpath.2006.06.012

Annals of Diagnostic Pathology
Volume 10, Issue 4 , Pages 241-250 , August 2006

Article Tools

* Image Usage & Resolution