Asbestos exposure biomarkers in the follow-up of asbestos-exposed workers

• Published in: Industrial Health Vol. 56; no. 3; pp. 249 - 254
• Main Authors: PAOLUCCI, Valentina, ROMEO, Riccardo, SISINNI, Antonietta Gerardina, SCANCARELLO, Giuseppina, VOLTERRANI, Luca, MAZZEI, Maria Antonietta, BARABESI, Lucio, SARTORELLI, Pietro
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Japan National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health 01.01.2018; National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, Japan; National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, Japan (JNIOSH)
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Alveoli; Amphibole; Amphiboles; Asbestos; Asbestos - analysis; Asbestosis; Asbestosis - epidemiology; Asbestosis - etiology; Biological markers; Biomarkers; Biomarkers - analysis; Bronchoalveolar lavage; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid; Bronchus; Chrysotile; Diagnosis; Evaluation; Exposure; Follow-Up Studies; GPI-Linked Proteins - blood; Health surveillance; Humans; Italy - epidemiology; Male; Mesothelin; Middle Aged; Occupational diseases; Occupational exposure; Occupational Exposure - statistics & numerical data; Original; Patient outcomes; Peptides; Railroads; Reliability analysis; Risk factors; Statistical methods; Italy; Biomarkers; Mesothelin; Amphibole; Asbestos; Asbestosis; Bronchoalveolar lavage
• ISSN: 0019-8366; 1880-8026
• DOI: 10.2486/indhealth.2017-0125

Health surveillance of asbestos exposed workers should be stratified according to the exposure level. Unfortunately there is a lack of information regarding asbestos exposure in many working places and markers of asbestos exposure are often needed. The aim of the study was to assess the reliability of different dose and effect biomarkers in the follow up of asbestos-exposed workers. Mineralogical analysis of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) as a biomarker of asbestos fibre burden was performed in a population of 307 male subjects occupationally exposed to asbestos. Using nonparametric statistical methods 8 variables were analyzed with respect to asbestos-related diseases and working sectors. The existence of a relationship between serum soluble mesothelin-related peptides (SMRP) and asbestos exposure levels was also investigated. Concentrations of amphiboles, chrysotile and asbestos bodies in BALF were higher in patients with asbestosis as well as in railway industry workers. A correlation between the onset of non malignant asbestos-related diseases and the levels of SMRP concentration was not found. This study confirms that fibre concentration in BALF may be considered as a reliable biomarker of previous asbestos exposure, whereas SMRP does not appear to be influenced by asbestos exposure levels.