Exposure to asbestos and the indoor environment

• Published in: Revue des maladies respiratoires Vol. 28; no. 6; p. 730
• Main Authors: Billon-Galland, M-A, Martinon, L, Andujar, P, Ameille, J, Paris, C, Brochard, P, Pairon, J-C
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: French
• Published: France 01.06.2011
• Subjects: Air Pollution, Indoor - adverse effects; Air Pollution, Indoor - legislation & jurisprudence; Air Pollution, Indoor - prevention & control; Asbestos - adverse effects; Construction Materials - adverse effects; Construction Materials - standards; Environmental Exposure; Environmental Restoration and Remediation; France; Hazardous Waste; Household Articles - legislation & jurisprudence; Household Articles - standards; Humans; Maintenance; Microscopy, Electron; Mineral Fibers - adverse effects; Mineral Fibers - analysis; Neoplasms - epidemiology; Neoplasms - etiology; Neoplasms - prevention & control; Occupational Exposure; Refuse Disposal - methods; Respiration Disorders - epidemiology; Respiration Disorders - etiology; Respiration Disorders - prevention & control; France
• ISSN: 1776-2588
• DOI: 10.1016/j.rmr.2011.02.011

A link between the inhalation of asbestos fibres and the outcome of benign and malignant respiratory diseases has been established from numerous epidemiological data in occupational settings. Occupational exposure limit values have been established with a gradual lowering of these over time. Conversely, there are few epidemiological data dealing with exposure in the indoor environment. However, numerous materials and products containing asbestos (MPCA) are present in the indoor environment, due to their widespread use in the construction sector in the years between 1960 and 1990. The regulations were changed from the late 1990s, leading to a systematic inventory of the presence of asbestos-containing materials in buildings. The aim of this manuscript is to clarify the different types of MPCA encountered in the indoor environment, to describe the techniques used to highlight asbestos depending on the nature of the materials, the regulatory requirements relating to asbestos in non-occupational situations, and to update on the state of knowledge on asbestos-related diseases in the indoor environment.