Naval Dockyards and the Mesothelioma Threat

When asbestos is disturbed or damaged, the small fibers can break away and float like dust in the air. If these fibers are inhaled, they can settle in the lungs, and over several years to bring to life threatening health problems. ; An interesting study entitled "Radiological examination of men exposed to asbestos in naval dockyards," according to Harries PG, Mackenzie FAF, G. sheers, JH Kemp, TP Oliver, DS Wright - Br J Ind Med 1972, 29:274-279. Here is an excerpt:. "Summary - Radiological examination of men exposed to asbestos in naval dockyards asbestos-related abnormalities were found in 3% of 10% of the sample population in radiological studies marine dockyards at Portsmouth, Chatham and Rosyth. Incidence of these abnormalities was related to the type of occupation and duration of exposure asbestos. results confirm findings from earlier research on the Devonport shipyard. There is no connection between smoking and amount smoked and the incidence of parenchymal or pleural disease due to exposure to asbestos was discovered. pleural abnormalities were found 10 times more frequent than parenchymal disease, a concern is felt over the uncertainty of forecasts in men with pleural abnormalities, especially because 37 people have developed pleural mesothelioma in Devonport since 1965. more work is needed to determine the true meaning of pleural abnormalities caused by asbestos and explore possible methods of treatment. "

Another study called "parietal pleural plaques, asbestos bodies, and neoplasia of the clinical, pathological, and roentgenographic correlation of 25 consecutive cases bear SL, Rogge VL, Foster WL Jr. - Chest 1984 Studen; .. 86 (5). :707-13 Here's an excerpt: "Abstract - The investigation has been made to link the autopsy findings and roentgenographic pleural plaques with occupational exposure to asbestos and the occurrence of respiratory tract tumors. Of 434 autopsies performed over 2 1 / 2 years, 25 (5.8 percent) had pleural plaques, but no gross evidence of parenchymal fibrosis. View the back-front chest roentgenograms using International Labour Office criteria for the classification of pneumoconiosis (1980) found that only seven of 25 cases were recognized pleural thickening or calcification, which indicates poor sensitivity of standard x-ray films. There was no difference in the frequency detect known or presumed exposure to asbestos pleural plate between cases and controls as determined by the occupational information obtained from chart review. Asbestos bodies were identified in lung tissue digests from all 25 cases of pleural plaques, and more normal range for our laboratory in 14 cases (56 percent). Of the 25 cases of pleural plaques, four also had bronchogenic and three laryngeal karcinom.Prevalencija bronchogenic carcinoma in patients with panels was not different from those without plaques (p greater than 0.50). However, the relationship between plaques and laryngeal cancer was highly significant (p = 0.004). "

If you find some of these studies is interesting, please read them in full. We all owe much gratitude to people who study these important issues.