Journal List > J Korean Med Assoc > v.55(3) > 1042536

Kang, Kim, and Kim: Asbestos and environmental diseases

Abstract

Asbestos causes several asbestos related diseases (ARDs). Not only occupational asbestos exposure but also environmental asbestos exposure can cause ARDs. In Korea compensation for workers with ARDs has been provided by workers' compensation. Because the asbestos damage relief act (ADRA) was enacted in 2011, ARDs by environmental exposure can now be compensated. Korea is the sixth country in the world to compensate environmental asbestos victims. In the ADRA, the list of compensable diseases eligible for relief consists of lung cancer, malignant mesothelioma, and asbestosis. Because the back ground and criteria of each ARD for relief is different, physicians need to be familiar with all of them in order to deal with ARD patients. In this paper, the properties of asbestos, history of ARDs, and contents of the ADRA are discussed. Although the relationships between occupational asbestos exposure and ARDs have been well established, those for environmental exposure have not. More specifically, the relationship between lung cancer and environmental asbestos exposure is still not clear because of strong confounders. The first wave of asbestos problems arose from occupational exposure directly involving asbestos production, the second wave arose from usage of asbestos products, and the third wave would be related to asbestos ubiquitous in the environment. In Korea the second wave is just beginning to swell. Physicians must to prepare for these waves to crest in the near future.

Figures and Tables

jkma-55-214-g001
Figure 1
Asbestos factories and mines in Korea (From Asbestos mine/factory information [Internet]. Yangsan: Korea Research Center for Asbestos-Related Disease; 2012) [7].

Download Figure

jkma-55-214-g002
Figure 2
Structure for procedure of application and certification by asbestos damage relief act.

Download Figure

Table 1
Classification of asbestos
jkma-55-214-i001

CAS, Chemical Abstract Service.

Download Table

Table 2
Definition of categories of probability and intensity for domestic and environmental exposure to asbestos
jkma-55-214-i002

From Magnani C, et al. Br J Cancer 2000;83:104-111, with permission from Nature Publishing Group [6].

Download Table

Table 3
Criteria for acceptance of each asbestos related disease in asbestos damage relief act
jkma-55-214-i003

Download Table

Table 4
Current status of asbestos damage relief judgment and acceptance
jkma-55-214-i004

Download Table

References

1. Weiner R, Rees D, Lunga FJ, Felix MA. Third wave of asbestos-related disease from secondary use of asbestos. A case report from industry. S Afr Med J. 1994. 84:158–160.
2. Ahn YS. The prevalence of asbestos-related pleural thickness and the estimation of asbestos-related mesothelioma in Korea. 2007. Incheon: Occupational Safety and Health Research Institute, Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency.
3. International Agency for Research on Cancer. Some inorganic and organometallic compounds. IARC monographs. 1973. Vol. 2. Lyon: International Agency for Research on Cancer.
4. Asbestos (CASRN 1332-21-4) [Internet]. U. S. Environmental Protection Agency. 1993. cited 2012 Feb 3. Washington, DC: U. S. Environmental Protection Agency;Available from: http://www.epa.gov/NCEA/iris/subst/0371.htm.
5. Howel D, Arblaster L, Swinburne L, Schweiger M, Renvoize E, Hatton P. Routes of asbestos exposure and the development of mesothelioma in an English region. Occup Environ Med. 1997. 54:403–409.
crossref
6. Magnani C, Agudo A, Gonzalez CA, Andrion A, Calleja A, Chellini E, Dalmasso P, Escolar A, Hernandez S, Ivaldi C, Mirabelli D, Ramirez J, Turuguet D, Usel M, Terracini B. Multicentric study on malignant pleural mesothelioma and non-occupa-tional exposure to asbestos. Br J Cancer. 2000. 83:104–111.
crossref
7. Asbestos mine/factory information [Internet]. Korea Research Center for Asbestos-Related Disease. 2012. cited 2012 Feb 3. Yangsan: Korea Research Center for Asbestos-Related Disease;Available from: http://www.krcard.org/information/asbestos5.php?menu=3&menu_sub=3.
8. Murray HM. Department Committee on Compensation for Industrial Disease. Statement before the committee in the minutes of evidence. Report of the Department Committee on Compensation for Industrial Disease. 1907. London: Health Management Stationery Office;127–128.
9. Lemen R. Dodson RF, Hammar SP, editors. Epidemiology of asbestos related diseases and the knowledge that led to what is known today. Asbestos: risk assessment, epidemiology, and health effects. 2006. Boca Raton: Taylor & Francis;201–308.
crossref
10. Mills RG. Pulmonary asbestosis: report of a case. Minn Med J. 1930. 13:495.
11. Yoon IJ. Environmental pollution and carcinogenic material. J Korean Med Assoc. 1978. 21:372–375.
12. Moon YH. Epidemiological survey of asbestosis in asbestos miners and the inhabitants. Korean Cent J Med. 1979. 37:169–178.
13. Jung JY, Ahn HS, Kim JW, Kim KA, Yun IG, Kim HW, Choi YM, Song JS. A case of asbestosis, pleural effusion and lung cancer caused by long-term occupational asbesotos exposure. Tuberc Respir Dis. 1994. 41:651–657.
crossref
14. Kang SK, Kim EA. Occupational diseases in Korea. J Korean Med Sci. 2010. 25:Suppl. S4–S12.
crossref
15. Gloyne SR. Two cases of squamous carcinoma of the lung occurring in asbestosis. Tubercle. 1935. 17:5–10.
crossref
16. Lynch KM, Smith WA. Pulmonary asbestosis III: carcinoma of the lung in asbetos silicosis. Am J Cancer. 1935. 24:56–64.
17. Doll R. Mortality from lung cancer in asbestos workers. Br J Ind Med. 1955. 12:81–86.
crossref
18. Yoon IJ. A study of the histological cell types of lung cancer in workers suffering from asbestosis in the United Kingdom. Tuberc Respir Dis. 1976. 23:125–128.
crossref
19. Asbestos, asbestosis, and cancer: the Helsinki criteria for diagnosis and attribution. Scand J Work Environ Health. 1997. 23:311–316.
20. Luce D, Bugel I, Goldberg P, Goldberg M, Salomon C, Billon-Galland MA, Nicolau J, Quenel P, Fevotte J, Brochard P. Environmental exposure to tremolite and respiratory cancer in New Caledonia: a case-control study. Am J Epidemiol. 2000. 151:259–265.
crossref
21. Mzileni O, Sitas F, Steyn K, Carrara H, Bekker P. Lung cancer, tobacco, and environmental factors in the African population of the Northern Province, South Africa. Tob Control. 1999. 8:398–401.
crossref
22. Camus M, Siemiatycki J, Meek B. Nonoccupational exposure to chrysotile asbestos and the risk of lung cancer. N Engl J Med. 1998. 338:1565–1571.
crossref
23. Wagner JC, Sleggs CA, Marchand P. Diffuse pleural mesothelioma and asbestos exposure in the North Western Cape Province. Br J Ind Med. 1960. 17:260–271.
crossref
24. Wagner JC. Experimental production of mesothelial tumours of the pleura by implantation of dusts in laboratory animals. Nature. 1962. 196:180–181.
crossref
25. Selikoff IJ, Churg J. New York Academy of Sciences. Biological effects of asbestos. 1965. New York: New York Academy of Sciences.
26. Bai JS, Ko JK, Chi JK. Malignant peritoneal mesothelioma report of one case with review of literature. J Korean Surg Soc. 1966. 8:303–309.
27. Park MI, Choi JS, Choi HM, Jang TI, Moon IH, Kim JH, Jang TW, Lee DH, Jung MH, Kang SK. A case of diffuse malignant pleural mesothelioma with occupational asbestos exposure. Korean J Med. 1995. 48:526–531.
28. Asbestos: chrisotile, amosite, crocidolite, tremolite, actinolite, and anthophyllite [Internet]. International Agency for Research on Cancer. 2011. cited 2012 Feb 3. Lyon: International Agency for Research on Cancer;Available from: http://monographs.iarc.fr/ENG/Monographs/vol100C/mono100C-11.pdf.
29. Asbestos: elimination of asbestos-related diseases [Internet]. World Health Organization. 2010. cited 2012 Feb 3. Geneva: World Health Organization;Available from: http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs343/en/index.html.
TOOLS
ORCID iDs

Dong-Mug Kang
https://orcid.org/http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0657-0181

Similar articles