Environmentally related diseases and the possibility of valuation of their social costs.

Ilona Hajok,Ewa Marchwińska,Bernadeta Kuraszewska,Agata Piekut,Grzegorz Dziubanek

doi:10.1155/2014/284072

Ilona Hajok, Ewa Marchwińska + Show 3 more

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https://doi.org/10.1155/2014/284072

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Journal: TheScientificWorldJournal	Publication Date: Jan 1, 2014
Citations: 21	License type: CC BY 3.0

Affiliation: Medical University of Silesia

Abstract

The risks of the morbidity of the asbestos-related lung cancer was estimated in the general population of Poles as the result of increased exposure to asbestos fibers during the removal of asbestos-cement products and the possibility of the valuation of the social costs related to this risk. The prediction of the new incidences was made using linear regression model. The forecast shows that to the end of 2030 about 3,500 new cases of lung cancer can be expected as a result of occupational exposure to asbestos in the past which makes together with paraoccupational exposure about 14.000 new cases. The forecast shows the increasing number of asbestos-related lung cancer in Poland and indicates the priority areas where preventive action should be implemented.

Highlights

More than 30 years of research in the environmental health field confirm an important role of chemical compounds present in the environment in the etiology of many diseases
On the basis of the prediction model, calculated for asbestos-related lung cancer, it was shown that the maximum number of new cases in Poland by the end of 2030 can be estimated at 3,500 cases
This means that the neoplastic effects of occupational and paraoccupational exposure to asbestos can cause 14,000 new cases of asbestosrelated lung cancer (Figure 1)

Summary

Introduction

More than 30 years of research in the environmental health field confirm an important role of chemical compounds present in the environment in the etiology of many diseases. The results of the research allow grouping the chronic diseases, whose prevalence is variably dependent on the exposure of the population to chemical pollutants. It is estimated that the financial burden for the EU healthcare systems in 2006 associated only with a group of cardiovascular diseases was slightly less than 110 billion euros. This gives the annual cost of 223 euros per capita or about 10 percent of the total health care spending in the EU. The group of asbestos-related diseases, including lung cancer, resulting from the exposure to asbestos present in the environment are the best proven example of close association between environmental pollution and some diseases

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