Goldberg P, Luce D, Billon-Galland M A, Quénel P, Salomon-Nekiriai C, Nicolau J, Brochard P, Goldberg M
Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), Unité 88, Hôpital National de St-Maurice, France.
Rev Epidemiol Sante Publique. 1995;43(5):444-50.
A previous study of respiratory cancers in New Caledonia (1978-1987) showed an excess risk of pleural cancer in this South Pacific French Territory, leading to the identification of an environmental pollution. In some villages, the residents use for their houses a whitewash made from a rock derived from local outcroppings. Analysis of samples of rock and whitewash showed that they consisted of tremolite asbestos. High levels of tremolite were detected in airborne samples collected in these villages and in biological specimens of patients with pulmonary cancer or mesothelioma; the concentrations of fibers are up to 78,000 fibers per litre of air and 44 millions of fibers per gramme of dry tissue. Besides the whitewash, the environmental exposure to tremolite fibers could also be associated with certain occupations. A case control study under process will allow the estimation of respiratory cancer risks associated with the exposure to tremolite.
此前一项对新喀里多尼亚地区（1978 - 1987年）呼吸道癌症的研究表明，在这个南太平洋法属领地，胸膜癌风险过高，由此确定存在环境污染。在一些村庄，居民用当地露头岩石制成的石灰水粉刷房屋。对岩石和石灰水样本的分析表明，它们由透闪石石棉组成。在这些村庄采集的空气样本以及肺癌或间皮瘤患者的生物样本中检测到高含量的透闪石；纤维浓度高达每升空气78,000根纤维以及每克干组织4400万根纤维。除了石灰水粉刷外，透闪石纤维的环境暴露也可能与某些职业有关。正在进行的一项病例对照研究将有助于评估与接触透闪石相关的呼吸道癌症风险。
