Asbestos and other hazardous fibrous minerals: Potential exposure pathways and associated health risks
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Other Title
Authors
Berry, Terri-Ann
Belluso, E.
Vigliaturo, R.
Giere, R.
Emmett, E.A.
Testa, J.R.
Steinhorn, Gregor
Wallis, Shannon
Belluso, E.
Vigliaturo, R.
Giere, R.
Emmett, E.A.
Testa, J.R.
Steinhorn, Gregor
Wallis, Shannon
Author ORCID Profiles (clickable)
Degree
Grantor
Date
2022-03-29
Supervisors
Type
Journal Article
Ngā Upoko Tukutuku (Māori subject headings)
Keyword
elongate mineral particles (EMPs)
mesothelioma
asbestiform minerals
carcinogenicity
asbestos contamination
erionite and malignant mesothelioma (MM)
environmental remediation
mesothelioma
asbestiform minerals
carcinogenicity
asbestos contamination
erionite and malignant mesothelioma (MM)
environmental remediation
ANZSRC Field of Research Code (2020)
Citation
Berry, T-A., Belluso, E., Vigliaturo, R., Giere, R., Emmett, E.A., Testa, J.R., Steinhorn, G., & Wallis, S.L. (2022). Asbestos and other hazardous fibrous minerals: Potential exposure pathways and associated health risks. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(7), 1-17. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19074031
Abstract
There are six elongate mineral particles (EMPs) corresponding to specific dimensional and morphological criteria, known as asbestos. Responsible for health issues including asbestosis, and malignant mesothelioma, asbestos has been well researched. Despite this, significant exposure continues to occur throughout the world, potentially affecting 125 million people in the workplace and causing thousands of deaths annually from exposure in homes. However, there are other EMPS, such as fibrous/asbestiform erionite, that are classified as carcinogens and have been linked to cancers in areas where it has been incorporated into local building materials or released into the environment through earthmoving activities. Erionite is a more potent carcinogen than asbestos but as it is seldom used for commercial purposes, exposure pathways have been less well studied. Despite the apparent structural and chemical similarities between asbestos and fibrous erionite, their health risks and exposure pathways are quite different. This article examines the hazards presented by EMPs with a particular focus on fibrous erionite. It includes a discussion of the global locations of erionite and similar hazardous minerals, a comparison of the multiple exposure pathways for asbestos and fibrous erionite, a brief discussion of the confusing nomenclature associated with EMPs, and considerations of increasing global mesothelioma cases.
Publisher
Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute
Permanent link
Link to ePress publication
DOI
doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19074031
Copyright holder
© 2022 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.
Copyright notice
Attribution 4.0 International