Pasetto R, Comba P, Marconi A
Department of Environment and Primary Prevention, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome.
Med Lav. 2005 Jul-Aug;96(4):330-7.
The main sources of environmental, non-occupational exposure to asbestos or asbestiform fibres are: a) industrial plants in which asbestos was used in the production process; b) asbestos "in place" (mainly in buildings); c) contaminated soils. The association of these exposures with increasing risk of mesothelioma has been documented since 1960 in many places.
The present paper is aimed at describing the main results of studies performed in the locations with soils naturally contaminated with asbestos or asbestiform fibres. Environmental exposure data and asbestos-related health outcomes, mainly mesothelioma, are analyzed through a review of the literature.
The sites with asbestos or other mesotheliomatogenous fibres in soils are characterized by low concentration levels of airborne fibres. Furthermore, exposure levels may increase when specific activities are carried out (mainly related to building construction), involving mechanical disturbance of fibre-containing materials. The type of fibres found are mainly amphiboles (tremolite). The population at risk of exposure is the general population, which can be exposed from birth. In these sites, the sex ratio of mesothelioma cases is close to 1.0 and the average age of cases ranges from 50 to 60 years.
Both "natural"and industrial environmental asbestos or asbestiform fibre exposures increase potential risk for mesothelioma. Strategies of environmental reclamation and risk communication should be implemented in these areas.
环境中、非职业性接触石棉或石棉状纤维的主要来源有：a）生产过程中使用石棉的工业工厂；b）“原地”石棉（主要存在于建筑物中）；c）受污染土壤。自1960年以来，许多地方都记录了这些接触与间皮瘤风险增加之间的关联。
本文旨在描述在土壤天然受石棉或石棉状纤维污染的地点所开展研究的主要结果。通过文献综述分析环境接触数据以及与石棉相关的健康结果，主要是间皮瘤。
土壤中含有石棉或其他致间皮瘤纤维的地点，其空气中纤维浓度水平较低。此外，在进行特定活动（主要与建筑施工有关），涉及对含纤维材料进行机械扰动时，接触水平可能会增加。所发现的纤维类型主要是闪石类（透闪石）。面临接触风险的人群是普通人群，从出生起就可能接触。在这些地点，间皮瘤病例的男女比例接近1.0，病例的平均年龄在50至60岁之间。
“天然”和工业环境中的石棉或石棉状纤维接触都会增加间皮瘤的潜在风险。应在这些地区实施环境整治和风险沟通策略。
