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Deaths
and Major Morbidity from Asbestos-Related Diseases
in Asia Likely to Surge in Next 20 Years, Experts Warn
ScienceDaily (June 10, 2011) — An alarming new article in Respirology
issues a serious warning of massive rises in deaths from asbestos-related
lung diseases in Asia.
Dr Ken
Takahashi, Acting Director of the WHO Collaborating Center for Occupational
Health, and his team put together important data on asbestos use in 47 Asian
countries in this landmark article. Cyprus, Israel and Japan had the highest
age-adjusted mortality rates in Asia. This study published in Respirology,
a journal of the Asian Pacific Society of Respirology, will serve as an
important reference document for health authorities in Asian-Pacific.
Asian
countries accounted for 64% of the global consumption of asbestos in the
period of 2001-2007, a striking increase from 14% between 1920 and 1970.
This is a result of unregulated asbestos import and use in many Asian
countries.
"Despite concerns of the global ARD epidemic and Asia's growing importance
in the world, data on current asbestos use and asbestos related diseases in
Asia remain limited," said Dr. Ken Takahashi. This article extracted data
from the WHO Mortality Database and published literature and will inform
public health planning and regional health policies in Asian countries.
The
World Health Organization identifies asbestos as one of the most dangerous
occupational carcinogens, declaring the need to eliminate asbestos use and
associated health damages. An estimated 107,000 people worldwide die from
asbestos related diseases. Asbestos is a mineral fiber commonly used for
insulation in constructions. It is relatively affordable and makes it
attractive in developing countries.
Asbestos related lung diseases, particularly mesothelioma, lung cancer and
asbestosis (asbestos induced lung fibrosis), typically develop after decades
of lag time from first exposure. Up to 2007, Asian patients accounted for
13% of the cumulative global mortality from asbestos-related
pleura-pulmonary diseases. Dr. Takahashi is concerned that "the sharp
increase in asbestos use in Asia will see a surge of mortality and morbidity
from asbestos related diseases in this region in the decades ahead."
This
article will serve as a stern warning for Asian governments who have yet to
ban the use of asbestos. Healthcare providers in Asia must also begin to
equip themselves the expertise and resources to manage this 'Asian asbestos
tsunami.'
Story
Source:
The
above story is reprinted (with editorial adaptations by ScienceDaily
staff) from materials provided by
Wiley-Blackwell, via
EurekAlert!, a service of AAAS.
Journal Reference:
1.
Giang Vinh Le, Ken Takahashi, Eun-Kee Park, Vanya Delgermaa, Chulho
Oak, Ahmad Munir Qureshi, Syed Mohamed Aljunid. Asbestos use and
asbestos-related diseases in Asia: past, present and future.
Respirology, 2011; DOI:
10.1111/j.1440-1843.2011.01975.x
Wiley-Blackwell (2011, June 10). Deaths and major morbidity from
asbestos-related diseases in Asia likely to surge in next 20 years, experts
warn. ScienceDaily. Retrieved June 14, 2011, from http://www.sciencedaily.com
/releases/2011/06/110609151531.htm |