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Autoimmune antibodies and asbestos exposure: Evidence from Wittenoom, Western Australia
Author(s) -
Reid Alison,
Franklin Peter,
de Klerk Nick,
Creaney Jenette,
Brims Fraser,
Musk Bill,
Pfau Jean
Publication year - 2018
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.22863
Subject(s) - medicine , asbestos , cohort study , cohort , population , immunology , environmental health , materials science , metallurgy
Background Studies comparing different forms of asbestos are rare, and limited by the failure to compare results with unexposed populations. We compare autoimmune responses among former workers and residents of the crocidolite mining and milling town of Wittenoom, Western Australia, with an unexposed population. Methods ANA testing using indirect immunofluorescence was performed on randomly selected serum samples from Wittenoom workers or residents and compared with those from participants of another unexposed cohort study. Results ANA scores were higher in the Wittenoom participants compared with Busselton and the odds of being ANA positive was fivefold greater among Wittenoom participants than Busselton (OR 5.5, 95%CI 2.3‐13.0). Conclusions This study is the first to report increased ANA positivity among persons exposed exclusively to crocidolite. This finding of a high frequency of positive ANA tests among crocidolite‐exposed subjects may be an indicator for an increased risk of systemic autoimmune diseases and needs further scrutiny.