Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 8, 2026

Implantation and Monitoring by PET/CT of an Orthotopic Model of Human Pleural Mesothelioma in Athymic Mice
Published on: December 21, 2019
Corporate corruption of science-Another asbestos example.
David Egilman1,2, Rubén Monárrez2,3
1Warren Alpert Medical School, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island.
This study reanalyzed mesothelioma cases among brake workers, finding that previous research used overly strict criteria, thus excluding relevant cases of asbestos exposure from brake repair. This impacts understanding of occupational risks.
Area of Science:
- Occupational Health
- Epidemiology
- Environmental Medicine
Background:
- A previous analysis by Kelsh et al. (2007) reexamined Australian Mesothelioma Surveillance Registry (AMSR) data on brake workers.
- This analysis was commissioned by lawyers representing automobile manufacturers and differed from independent research by Leigh and Driscoll (2003).
Purpose of the Study:
- To reevaluate the Australian Mesothelioma Surveillance Registry (AMSR) data independently.
- To understand the data categorization methods used in company-sponsored research.
Main Methods:
- Reanalysis of 78 brake-related cases from the AMSR.
- Classification of cases based on employment and asbestos exposure history, specifically from brake work.
Main Results:
- Identified 57 employed brake mechanics among the 78 cases.
- Determined 35 cases involved brake mechanics with no asbestos exposure beyond brake work.
- Found 41 cases with no asbestos exposure other than brake work or repair, differing significantly from Kelsh et al.'s findings.
Conclusions:
- The study concludes that Kelsh et al. employed overly stringent inclusion criteria.
- This methodological approach likely reduced the number of relevant cases, potentially underestimating asbestos exposure risks in brake mechanics.
Related Concept Videos
Ethics in Research
Mutagenicity and Carcinogenicity
Toxic Reactions: Overview
Toxicity falls into two primary categories: local and systemic.
Local toxicity appears at the exposure site, such as protein denaturation caused by caustic substances.
In contrast, systemic toxicity requires the toxic agent's absorption and distribution,...
Types of Toxins
Air pollutants, primarily gases, pose significant threats to respiratory health, leading to conditions like hypoxia, lung cancer, and in extreme cases, death.
Environmental pollutants like...
Rous Sarcoma Virus (RSV) and Cancer
RSV is a retrovirus that contains two copies of a plus-strand RNA genome. Its genome consists of four main open...
Criteria for Causality: Bradford Hill Criteria - I

