Asbestosis Research Project: Annual Report (Pneumoconiosis Research Unit, South Africa) (1970)

This is the 1970 annual report of the Asbestosis Research Project, a joint project of the South African Department of Mines, the asbestos mining industry and the Pneumoconiosis Research Unit of the Medical Research Council of South Africa. It is a progress report on many activities, not a single study. The copy supplied for this summary is partly illegible, and in places the text is blank or breaks off. The report stated that thirty-four cases of mesothelioma were diagnosed in the Unit during the year: 4 from autopsy specimens, 27 from pleural biopsy specimens and 3 from pleural fluid. Eight were sent to the Asbestos Tumour Reference Panel, which confirmed the diagnosis. The report described the lung tissue of 6 people with asbestosis who had large opacities on X-ray. It also reported massive fibrosis in animals exposed to dust of long-fibre crocidolite, which the authors said confirmed that massive fibrosis is associated with inhaling asbestos. Preliminary laboratory results suggested that several metal ions inhibited benzopyrene hydroxylase, but the equipment was unsatisfactory, so unequivocal results could not be obtained. An X-ray survey of mill workers was completed, but no results were given.

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From J-M's medical library

This copy comes from the Johns-Manville medical library. It was among the papers J-M kept in its medical library without an index entry.