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A review of mortality associated with elongate mineral particle (EMP) exposure in occupational epidemiology studies of gold, talc, and taconite mining
Author(s) -
Mandel Jeffrey H.,
Alexander Bruce H.,
Ramachandran Gurumurthy
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
american journal of industrial medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.7
H-Index - 104
eISSN - 1097-0274
pISSN - 0271-3586
DOI - 10.1002/ajim.22641
Subject(s) - talc , medicine , epidemiology , occupational exposure , gold standard (test) , environmental health , metallurgy , materials science
Background Mining of gold, taconite, and talc may involve exposure to elongate mineral particles (EMP). The involved EMPs are typically non‐asbestiform, include dimensions that regulatory definitions exclude, and have been less studied. Methods A review of the literature was undertaken for this exposure and occupational epidemiological studies that occur in gold, talc, and taconite mining. Results Quantitative EMP exposure information in these industries is incomplete. However, there are consistent findings of pneumoconiosis in each of these types of mining. A recent case‐control study suggests a possible association between this exposure and mesothelioma. Lung cancer is inconsistently reported in these industries and is an unlikely outcome of non‐asbestiform EMP exposure. There is evidence of cardiovascular mortality excess across all of these types of mining. Conclusions Non‐malignant respiratory disease and cardiovascular mortality have been consistently increased in these industries. Further investigation, including additional insights for the role of non‐asbestiform EMP, is warranted. Am. J. Ind. Med. 59:1047–1060, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.