Authors: Below, Jennifer¹; Cox, Nancy¹; Fukagawa, Naomi²; Hirvonen, Ari³; Testa, Joseph⁴

Source: Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health Part B: Critical Reviews, Volume 14, Numbers 1-4, 2011 , pp. 246-266(21)

Publisher: Taylor and Francis Ltd

Abstract:

Asbestos and related fibers are associated with a number of adverse health effects, including malignant mesothelioma (MM), an aggressive cancer that generally develops in the surface serosal cells of the pleural, pericardial, and peritoneal cavities. Although approximately 80% of individuals with MM are exposed to asbestos, fewer than 5% of asbestos workers develop MM. In addition to asbestos, other mineralogical, environmental, genetic, and possibly viral factors might contribute to MM susceptibility. Given this complex etiology of MM, understanding susceptibility to MM needs to be a priority for investigators in order to reduce exposure of those most at risk to known environmental carcinogens. In this review, the current body of literature related to fiber-associated disease susceptibility including age, sex, nutrition, genetics, asbestos, and other mineral exposure is addressed with a focus on MM, and critical areas for further study are recommended.

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10937404.2011.556052

Affiliations: 1: Department of Medicine, Section of Genetic Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA 2: Department of Medicine, University of Vermont College of Medicine, Bington, Vermont, USA 3: Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Helsinki, Finland 4: Cancer Biology Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

Publication date: 2011-01-01

More about this publication?

• Information for Authors
• Subscribe to this Title
• ingentaconnect is not responsible for the content or availability of external websites

Related content

• In this: publication
• By this: publisher
• In this Subject: Ecology ,  Toxicology
• By this author: Below, Jennifer ;  Cox, Nancy ;  Fukagawa, Naomi ;  Hirvonen, Ari ;  Testa, Joseph

Website © Publishing Technology. Article copyright remains with the publisher, society or author(s) as specified within the article.

• Terms and conditions
• Privacy policy
• Information for advertisers