Respiratory Health and Community Asbestos Exposure

描述(申请人提供)：石棉是已知的偶然因素，肺癌，石棉肺，间皮瘤。这些关联在职业暴露人群中得到了很好的确立，但较低的环境暴露风险尚不清楚。ATSDR的任务包括开发与了解石棉等危险物质对人类健康的影响有关的知识库。这项拟议的研究建立在ATSDR资助的评估石棉污染环境的先前工作的基础上。从1938年至1989年，明尼苏达州明尼阿波利斯一个人口稠密的城市居民区，在西部矿业/WR Grace工厂加工来自利比-蒙大拿州的石棉污染的蛭石矿石时，明尼苏达州经历了大量的环境石棉暴露。加工厂的废石广泛分布在附近，孩子们经常在成堆的废石上玩耍。明尼苏达州卫生部与ATSDR合作，建立了该社区现任和前任居民的花名册，并初步估计了与这些人口的接触。这项研究工作的长期目标是确定明尼阿波利斯WM/WRG工厂受污染的矿石中的石棉暴露对工人和周围社区成员的不利健康后果的程度。拟议的研究将侧重于社区中的非职业性接触。本研究将提出以下假设。1.在东北明尼阿波利斯社区蛭石调查队列成员中，非职业性接触石棉污染的蚯蚓制品和废品与非恶性石棉相关呼吸道疾病，特别是胸膜异常的患病率增加有关。2.儿童时期的接触与非恶性呼吸道疾病的发病有更强的相关性。将根据接触的概率从确定的居民中选择600人作为样本。与石棉接触相一致的用于检测非恶性呼吸道异常(放射学和肺活量测定)的呼吸筛查方案将确定普遍存在的与石棉有关的呼吸道疾病。这些疾病的患病率将根据估计的石棉暴露情况进行比较，同时控制潜在的混杂协变量。分析将考虑累积暴露和短而强烈的暴露，特别是儿童时期的暴露。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Asbestos is a known casual factor for lung cancer, asbestosis, mesothelioma. These associations are well established in occupationally exposed populations, however the risks at lower environmental exposures are not clear. The mission of the ATSDR includes developing the knowledge base related to understanding the effects of hazardous substances, like asbestos, on human health. The proposed research builds on previous work funded by the ATSDR evaluating an asbestos contaminated environment. From 1938-1989 a densely populated urban residential neighborhood in Minneapolis, MN experienced significant environmental asbestos exposure from processing asbestos contaminated vermiculite ore from Libby Montana at the Western Minerals/ WR Grace facility. Waste rock from the processing plant was distributed widely around the neighborhood and children frequently played on the piles of waste rock. The Minnesota Department of Health in cooperation with the ATSDR has established a roster of current and former residents of the neighborhood and have made initial estimates of exposure to this population. The long-term goal of this research effort is to determine the extent to which asbestos exposure from contaminated ore at the WM/WRG facility in Minneapolis resulted in adverse health consequences to workers and members of the surrounding community. The proposed research will focus on non-occupational exposure in the community. The following hypotheses will be addressed in this research. 1. Non-occupational exposure to asbestos contaminated vermiculite products and waste products is associated with increased prevalence of non-malignant asbestos related respiratory disease, specifically pleural abnormalities, in the members of the Northeast Minneapolis Community Vermiculite Investigation Cohort. 2. Exposure during childhood is more strongly related to onset of non-malignant respiratory disease. A sample of 600 of the identified residents will be selected based on probability of exposure. A respiratory screening protocol for detection of non-malignant respiratory abnormalities (radiographic and spirometry) consistent with asbestos exposure will establish prevalent asbestos related respiratory disease. The prevalence of these conditions will be compared on the basis of estimated asbestos exposure while controlling for potentially confounding covariates. Analyses will consider cumulative exposure and short, intense periods of exposure, with specific reference to exposure in childhood.