Does asbestos cause autoimmune disorders such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, and fibromyalgia?
Not enough information exists at this time to determine whether asbestos causes autoimmune diseases. A number of studies have shown that asbestosis is associated with immunological changes that could theoretically make a person more susceptible to autoimmune disorders. According to a recent allergy textbook, “immunologic abnormalities in animal models and patients with asbestosis include abnormal lymphocyte accumulation in the lower respiratory tract, abnormal T-lymphocyte subsets in BAL [bronchoalveolar lavage] fluid, evidence of decreased cell-mediated immunity, and diminished suppressor T cell function.” The text continues, however, “Correlation of these abnormalities (systemic or local) with the clinical features of asbestosis . . . has not been clearly demonstrated” [36]. In other words, it is not known at this time whether the changes are causally linked to the asbestosis or exposure to asbestos. It is also possible that people who have autoimmune abnormalities cou
