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Cancer et environnement: le cas de l’amiante

Cancer and the environment: the case of asbestos

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Oncologie

Résumé

L’amiante a été largement utilisé dans les pays indus-triels depuis plus d’un siècle, et continue à contribuer à l’augmentation du nombre de décès par mésothéliome. Alors que l’amiante n’a été interdit en France que depuis 1997 et en raison du long temps de latence autour de 30 ans, la mortalité par mésothéliome continuera à augmenter pour quelques décennies pour atteindre un pic vers les années 2020–2030. Le risque de mésothéliome est dose-dépendant et est plus élevé pour les amphiboles. Pour le cancer bronchique, le risque est linéaire en fonction de l’exposition cumulée, identique pour toutes les variétés d’amiante. Le fait de fumer augmente significativement le risque, mais les effets du tabac et de l’amiante sont indépendants l’un de l’autre. Pour des expositions a faibles doses, un excès de mésothéliomes ou de cancers bronchiques existe à proximité des mines, des manufactures d’amiante ou de sites naturels géologiques (exposition para-professionnelle, domestique ou environnementale). Dans tous les cas, aucun seuil d’inocuité n’a pu être démontré.

Abstract

Asbestos has been used extensively in industrialised countries for more than a century, causing ongoing increases in mortality from mesothelioma. Despite its regulation and ban in France in 1997, and because of the 30-year cancer latency period after exposure to it, mortality from mesothelioma will continue to increase in the country for several decades, peaking between 2020 and 2030. The risk of mesothelioma from asbestos exposure is dose dependent and higher for amphiboles. For lung cancer, the risk increases linearly with cumulative exposure, regardless of the type of asbestos; this risk is similar in the presence or absence of pleural plaques. Smoking acts with asbestos to greatly increase the risk of lung cancer, but the effects of asbestos and smoking are independent. Regarding low-level exposure, an excess of mesothelioma and lung cancer has been observed in the vicinity of mines, asbestos manufacturers and natural geologic sites (para-occupational, domestic and environmental exposure); we have been unable to demonstrate safe levels of asbestos exposure.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institut de cancérologie Gustave-Roussy, 39, rue Camille-Desmoulins, F-94805, Villejuif, France

    P. Ruffié

  2. Hôpital des armées Percy, 101, avenue Henri-Barbusse, F-92141, Clamart Cedex, France

    J. Margery

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  1. P. Ruffié
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  2. J. Margery
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Correspondence to P. Ruffié.

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Ruffié, P., Margery, J. Cancer et environnement: le cas de l’amiante. Oncologie 9, 335–339 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10269-007-0641-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10269-007-0641-1

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