The health effects of mining and milling chrysotile: The Russian experience

The former Soviet Union produces over 50% of the world's chrysotile asbesto s and is the largest user of the mineral. Occupational exposures are contro lled using six different gravimetric standards, which vary depending on the percentage of chrysotile asbestos in the dust and the type of asbestos-con taining product being fabricated. Uncontrolled exposures produced high inci dence of asbestosis and lung cancer, although historically mesothelioma has been and remains a rare disease in the Russian industry. The Russian exper ience with the mining and milling of chrysotile ore indicates that the inci dence of asbestosis and lung cancer can be significantly reduced by control ling the exposures. Lung-content analysis in ten cases of asbestosis reveal ed that tremolite is not an etiological factor. In the fabrication of some asbestos-containing products, where historical exposures have been lower th an in mining and milling, the risk of lung cancer is similar to that in the general population. Even significant nonoccupational exposure to chrysotil e has been associated with slight if any increased incidence of mesotheliom a.