Environmental and Occupational Exposure to Asbestos as a Result of Consumption and Use in Poland

Our plain-English summary of Environmental and Occupational Exposure to Asbestos as a Result of Consumption and Use in Poland, by M. Krówczyńska, E. Wilk (International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2019).

The study

• Authors: M. Krówczyńska, E. Wilk
• Journal: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
• Published: 2019;16(14)
• Cited by: 8 articles, as counted by NIH iCite
• Read it: PubMed · Publisher · Free full text

Abstract

Unlabelled: Asbestos is harmful to human health; exposure to asbestos causes a wide range of asbestos-related diseases.

Aim: Malignant mesothelioma (MM) is unique to occupational and environmental asbestos exposure.

Methods: Environmental asbestos exposure was examined in relation to asbestos use and manufacturing, the quantity of the asbestos-containing products still in use, the concentrations of asbestos fibres in the air and the number of MM cases diagnosed each year per county.

Results: The correlation coefficient of the measurements of the asbestos fibre concentrations in the air and the quantity of asbestos-cement products in use is high and amounts to 0.68. Meanwhile, the correlation coefficient of the measurements of asbestos fibre concentrations in air and MM morbidity rate resulting from environmental exposure calculated for particular counties in provinces is low and amounts to 0.37. The highest MM morbidity rate was observed for Małopolskie and Śląskie, a typical industrial area of Poland.

Conclusions: There are MM cases which are still attributable to occupational asbestos exposure, although MM cases resulting from environmental exposure to asbestos have an increased MM risk. Poland is among those countries with a low MM incidence rate, which seems to be an underestimation of environmental asbestos exposure. As long as asbestos-cement products are used in the environment, actions should be undertaken to protect public health.

In plain English

This study combined existing data sources to describe asbestos exposure, at work and in the general environment, across Poland's counties. The authors used records of asbestos imports and manufacturing plants, an earlier estimate of asbestos-cement products still in use, air measurements of asbestos fibres taken in 279 counties from 2004 to 2013, and malignant mesothelioma (MM) cases from the National Cancer Registry. The registry listed 3348 MM cases from 1999 to 2014. A medical programme for former asbestos-plant workers, called "Amiantus", reported 138 MM cases. The authors attributed the remaining cases to environmental and para-occupational exposure. Across counties, airborne fibre levels had a high correlation (0.68) with the amount of asbestos-cement products in use, but a low correlation (0.37) with the environmental MM rate. MM rates were highest in Małopolskie and Śląskie. The authors concluded that asbestos pollution threatens people in polluted areas, both through occupational exposure and through asbestos in the environment, especially asbestos-cement roofing. They also said Poland's low MM incidence seems to underestimate environmental exposure. They noted that better diagnosis may partly explain rising case numbers.

We wrote this plain-English summary from the full article with the help of AI, and a second AI model checked each sentence against the article. It is not the authors' wording; the abstract and the article are their own account.

What the study did and found

• Design: Descriptive, county-level (ecological) analysis combining existing national data on asbestos imports and plants, asbestos-cement products in use, airborne fibre measurements, and registered mesothelioma cases, with correlation coefficients
• Who was studied: Counties of Poland. Malignant mesothelioma cases (ICD-10 code C45; the article does not separate pleural from peritoneal) came from the National Cancer Registry, 3348 cases reported for 1999 to 2014. Air measurements covered 279 counties (73% of all counties), 2004 to 2013. The Amiantus programme surveyed 7020 former asbestos-plant employees, 2000 to 2013.
• Exposure: Environmental exposure estimated from asbestos-cement building products still in use (chrysotile was used mainly in asbestos-cement) and from measured asbestos fibre concentrations in the air. Occupational exposure in asbestos manufacturing plants was also considered, including crocidolite at the Szczucin plant.
• Main results:
  • Across counties, the correlation between airborne asbestos fibre concentrations and the quantity of asbestos-cement products in use was 0.68, described as high. It was 0.70 when Lubuskie, Kujawsko-Pomorskie and Zachodniopomorskie were excluded.
  • The correlation between airborne asbestos fibre concentrations and the MM morbidity rate from environmental exposure was 0.37, described as low.
  • 3348 MM cases among men and women in Poland were reported in the National Cancer Registry for 1999 to 2014.
  • 138 MM cases came from the Amiantus examinations of former asbestos-plant employees. The authors attributed the remaining cases to environmental and para-occupational exposure.
  • The highest MM morbidity rate was in the provinces of Małopolskie and Śląskie.
  • Dąbrowski county (Małopolskie), where the Szczucin plant used crocidolite, had 158 registered MM cases in total.
  • The highest average airborne fibre concentrations were recorded in 2004: 8150 fibres per cubic metre in Zgierz and 8229 fibres per cubic metre in Kraśnik.
  • In 12 counties, no asbestos fibres were found in the air, or the amount was below the method's quantification level.
• The authors' conclusion: The authors concluded that asbestos pollution is a threat to people living in polluted areas, through occupational exposure and also through asbestos in the environment, especially asbestos-cement roofing. They also stated that Poland's low MM incidence seems to be an underestimation of environmental exposure.
• Limitations the authors state:
  • The rise in MM morbidity may partly reflect improved diagnostic methods, not only a higher incidence.
  • No air measurements were taken in Lubuskie province.
  • Environmental asbestos exposure is difficult to study because of the long latency period.

Topics

The National Library of Medicine indexes this study under subjects our site covers: Lung cancer, Mesothelioma.

Medical terms in this study, explained in our Lexicon: Occupational Exposure, Malignant Mesothelioma, Asbestos Exposure, Asbestos-Cement, Environmental Exposure, Incidence.

Related studies

• Reply to Comment on Małgorzata Krówczyńska and Ewa Wilk. Environmental and Occupational Exposure to Asbestos as a Result of Consumption and Use in Poland. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2019, 16, 2611 — M. Krówczyńska, E. Wilk (2020)
• Comment on Małgorzata Krówczyńska and Ewa Wilk. Environmental and Occupational Exposure to Asbestos as a Result of Consumption and Use in Poland. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2019, 16, 2611 — B. Świątkowska, W. Hanke (2020)
• Environmental asbestos pollution -- situation in Poland — N. Szeszenia-Dąbrowska, W. Sobala, et al. (2012)
• Asbestos Exposure and the Mesothelioma Incidence in Poland — M. Krówczyńska, E. Wilk (2018)
• Spatial analysis of asbestos exposure and occupational health care in Poland during the period 2004-2013 — M. Krówczyńska, E. Wilk (2018)
• Estimation of the amount of asbestos-cement roofing in Poland — E. Wilk, M. Krówczyńska, et al. (2017)

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