Malignant mesothelioma from neighborhood exposure to anthophyllite asbestos

Background Anthophyllite asbestos has been reported to cause asbestosis, lu ng cancer, mesothelioma, and pleural plaques in occupationally exposed work ers. Anthophyllite has also been associated with pleural plaques in Finland and Japan among those who live near mines and mills and have neighborhood or environmental exposure. Methods We evaluated a 38-year-old patient with pleural mesothelioma who li ved, attended school, and delivered newspapers near a manufacturing facilit y that used exclusively anthophyllite asbestos fiber from ages 8-17 years. He had no work exposure to asbestos. Results The pleural mesothelioma was an epithelial type with tubulopapillar y structures and was treated with an extrapleural pneumonectomy followed by radiation therapy. The malignant cells were positive by immunohistochemist ry for cytokeratin but negative for carcinoembryonic antigen, S100, B72.3, and leu M1 antigen. Anthophyllite fibers were > 5 mum in length in lung tis sue compared to 3 mum from a general population study. Conclusions Anthophyllite asbestos has been associated with neighborhood en vironmental exposure and pleural plaques; we now report a neighborhood expo sure and pleural mesothelioma. (C) 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.