Asbestos : Risk Assessment, Health Implications and Impacts on the Environment

Asbestos is the commercial name for various mineral silicates associated with numerous respiratory diseases, notably mesothelioma, asbestosis and lung cancer. This book examines risk assessments, health implications and impacts on the environment of asbestos. Chapter One provides a summary of exposure during abatement/removal of asbestos-containing floor tile and mastic. Chapter Two discusses the epidemiological patterns of environmental asbestos-related disease. Chapter Three reviews the reduction of anti-tumor immunity caused by asbestos exposure. Chapter Four summarises current knowledge about the putative role of asbestos exposure in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma carcinogenesis. Chapter Five determines the impact of malignant mesothelioma (MM) using average life years lost and lifetime healthcare expenditures in Taiwan. Chapter Six reviews recent perspectives on both asbestos-related pleuritis and anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-related vasculitides. Chapter Seven clarifies subjects for protective policies against asbestos disaster and the meanings of local government asbestos measures in the case of Japan. Chapter Eight includes an overview of the mineralogical and morphological characterisation of asbestos in Argentina.