Pleural mesothelioma in relation to meteorological conditions and residential distance from an industrial source of asbestos

Our plain-English summary of Pleural mesothelioma in relation to meteorological conditions and residential distance from an industrial source of asbestos, by J. Tarrés, C. Albertí, X. Martínez-Artés, et al (Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 2013).

The study

• Authors: J. Tarrés, C. Albertí, X. Martínez-Artés, R. Abós-Herràndiz, M. Rosell-Murphy, I. García-Allas, I. Krier, G. Cantarell, M. Gallego, J. Canela-Soler, R. Orriols
• Journal: Occupational and Environmental Medicine
• Published: 2013;70(8):588-90
• Cited by: 22 articles, as counted by NIH iCite
• Read it: PubMed · Publisher

Abstract

Objectives: Few studies have focused on pleural mesothelioma and environmental exposure in individuals residing around an industrial source of asbestos. The aim of this study is to determine whether residential distance and wind conditions are related to the risk of developing pleural mesothelioma.

Methods: In this retrospective cohort study carried out in an area of Barcelona province (Catalonia, Spain), 24 environmental pleural mesothelioma cases were diagnosed between 2000 and 2009. We calculated the age-standardised incidence rate ratios of developing this disease in the population studied, taking into account the residential distance from the plant. For cases living within a 500-m radius of the plant, the geographical location in relation to the factory was also assessed.

Results: The incidence rate of environmental pleural mesothelioma was higher in the population living within 500 m of the plant than in those living in a radius of 500-2000 m and much higher than those living at 2000-10 000 m. The highest incidence rate ratio for pleural mesothelioma (161.9) was found in the southeast quadrant of the 500-m area, coinciding with the predominant wind direction.

Conclusions: Residential distance from an industrial source of asbestos and local wind conditions have a considerable impact on the risk of developing environmental pleural mesothelioma.

In plain English

This retrospective cohort study looked at pleural mesothelioma in people who lived near a large asbestos cement plant in Barcelona province, Catalonia, Spain. The plant operated from 1907 to 1997 and used 14 446 tons of asbestos per year (80% white, 15% blue and 5% brown). The authors identified 24 pleural mesothelioma cases diagnosed between 2000 and 2009 among residents of the area. People who had worked at the plant or lived with an asbestos worker were excluded. Homes were grouped by distance from the plant's asbestos mill and train unloading platform. The comparison group was residents living 2000 to 10 000 m away (8 cases). Against them, the incidence rate ratio was 3.1 for those at 500 to 2000 m (6 cases) and 56.5 for those within 500 m (10 cases). Winds in the area blew mainly from west to east and southeast. Within 500 m, the southeast quadrant had 8 cases and a rate ratio of 161.9. The authors concluded that residential distance from the plant and the prevailing winds can influence the risk of environmental pleural mesothelioma.

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: Retrospective cohort study based on medical records from the area's primary care centres and referral hospital, with age-standardised incidence rates and incidence rate ratios by residential distance and direction from the plant
• Who was studied: 24 patients with pleural mesothelioma diagnosed between 2000 and 2009 who had lived in the area around an asbestos cement plant in Barcelona province (Catalonia, Spain) while the plant was operating (1907 to 1997) and up to diagnosis. People who worked at the plant or lived with an asbestos worker were excluded. Mean age was 69.3 years, 15 (62.5%) were men and 13 (54.2%) were non-smokers.
• Exposure: Environmental (residential) exposure to a large asbestos cement plant that used 14 446 tons of asbestos per year (80% white, 15% blue and 5% brown). Exposure was measured as residential distance from the central emission point (under 500 m, 500 to 2000 m, more than 2000 to 10 000 m) and, within 500 m, by compass quadrant. Mean duration of exposure was 29.2 years and mean latency was 47.2 years.
• Main results:
  • Residents more than 2000 to 10 000 m from the plant (reference group, estimated population 325936) had 8 cases and an age-standardised incidence rate of 0.23 (95% CI 0.02 to 0.72) per 100 000 person-years.
  • Residents 500 to 2000 m from the plant (estimated population 83970) had 6 cases, an incidence rate of 0.70 (95% CI 0.28 to 1.44) and an incidence rate ratio of 3.1.
  • Residents within 500 m of the plant (estimated population 7879) had 10 cases, an incidence rate of 12.92 (95% CI 10.77 to 15.33) and an incidence rate ratio of 56.5 compared with the farthest zone.
  • Within 500 m, the southeast quadrant (estimated population 2213) had 8 cases, an incidence rate of 37.03 (95% CI 33.33 to 40.98) and an incidence rate ratio of 161.9. The northeast quadrant had 1 case (ratio 54.9), the southwest quadrant had 1 case (ratio 14.3) and the northwest quadrant had 0 cases.
  • The predominant winds in the area blew from west to east and southeast, at a mean annual speed of 1 to 2 m/s.
  • No pleural mesothelioma cases were found within 500 m of two other factories in the area that used asbestos (a brake factory and a thermal insulation and electrical material factory).
  • Age, sex and exposure time did not differ significantly between the distance sectors and quadrants (p greater than 0.05).
• The authors' conclusion: The authors concluded that residential distance from a contaminating industrial source of asbestos and the predominant wind conditions in the area can influence the risk of developing environmental pleural mesothelioma. Their abstract describes this impact as considerable.

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: Pleural Mesothelioma, Environmental Exposure, Cohort Study, Incidence.

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