Use Of Asbestos Research Articles

Asbestos: Communicating the Health Issues Derived from Fibrous Minerals to Society

Asbestos, also known by its commercial name “amianthus”, has been widely used in various industries due to its unique properties. However, the extensive use of asbestos has had serious consequences for human health, most notably asbestosis, an irreversible chronic lung disease. Asbestosis increases the risk of lung cancer and malignant mesothelioma, both of which are fatal. Applied sciences such as microscopy (optical and scanning electron microscopy) and geochemistry have been fundamental in characterizing the mineral fibers of asbestos to understand its role in human health. We previously used these techniques to characterize these fibers; in this study, we explored the issues associated with asbestos and asbestosis, as well as the challenges facing science communication strategies in effectively informing society and workers about these risks. The lack of scientific culture, in general, has led to a lack of public awareness of the risks of asbestos. As such, effective communication and outreach plans and strategies, including the visualization of the fibers to demonstrate why problems arise if inhaled, must be implemented to address these challenges. Educational campaigns, guidelines, and plans that are informative and actionable, teaching workers, communities, and the public about the risks of asbestos are crucial. A general knowledge of mineralogy and geochemistry is needed, and providing and disseminating proper scientific communication may help to close the knowledge gap. We use examples and experience from Spain and Italy to illustrate this matter, as we have been working on the characterization of ultramafic complexes in these countries for more than ten years. Additionally, because these countries have strict laws for asbestos-containing materials, they are currently involved in retiring and demolishing buildings and infrastructure that contain asbestos.

Occupational exposure to chrysotile in an asbestos cement factory in Kyrgyzstan.

An increasing number of countries are banning the production and use of asbestos, in compliance with the ratification of the C162 Asbestos Convention and the Basel Convention, and in response to the call for its elimination in the ILO resolution and WHO reports on the health risks associated with asbestos. Nevertheless, several countries, including Kyrgyzstan, are still miners and/or manufacturers of asbestos. The main objective of the study is to assess the occupational exposure to chrysotile of workers engaged in a production facility of asbestos-cement products in Kyrgyzstan. Monitored workers (n = 16, for a total of n = 18 samples) were divided into 3 "Similar Exposure Groups" (SEGs; SEG-1: asbestos loading; SEG-2; asbestos-cement mixing; SEG-3: cutting of asbestos-cement sheets) according to EN 689 standard. Samples were collected through personal sampling and subsequently examined by means of scanning electron microscope equipped with an energy-dispersive spectrometer for the compositional analysis of each fibre. The numerical concentration of airborne asbestos fibres was henceforward determined by dividing the number of fibres and the volume of sampled air (expressed in the number of fibres per millilitre of air: ff/ml). Investigated workers resulted to be exposed to chrysotile fibres. Results (GM ± GSD) outlined extremely high exposure levels for SEG-1 (2.2±2.1 ff/ml) and SEG-3 (4.7±1.6 ff/ml) workers and lower-but still relevant-exposure values for SEG-2 (0.91±2.6 ff/ml) workers. The results obtained in this case study can help to document potentially critical situations of occupational exposure to asbestos that can still occur nowadays in low and middle-income countries where asbestos is still mined and processed.

208b The role of WHWB in international efforts to eliminate asbestos use and deal with its legacy

208b The role of WHWB in international efforts to eliminate asbestos use and deal with its legacy

Asbestos ban policies and mesothelioma mortality in Greece

BackgroundMalignant mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that mostly affects the pleura and has a strong link to asbestos exposure. Greece banned the use of asbestos in 2005, however, the public was already aware of this substance in the 1980s. This research aims to present an overview of Greece’s mesothelioma age-standardized mortality rates (ASMR) from 1983 to 2019 by age, gender, and geographic region and to determine whether the actions to ban asbestos impacted these rates.MethodsData were retrieved by the Hellenic Statistical Authority (HSA) from death certificates that mentioned mesothelioma as the cause of death from 1983 to 2019 with details on the residence, gender, and age. Statistical analysis was performed using PRISM 6.0 software, a two-way ANOVA test, Trend analysis was conducted using Joinpoint Regression Program 5.0 software. The linear and non-linear model was used to calculate the age-standardized rates of annual percentage change (APC) and its 95% confidential interval (95% CI).ResultsFrom 1983 to 2019, 850 total mesothelioma deaths were recorded, the majority of whom were males (634). A rate of 74.6% accounts for males and 25.4% for females, and the ratio of Males: Females was 3:1. Males’ ASMR and the whole population’s ASMR reached their highest levels in 2011 (0.93/100000person-years and 0.53/100000person-years, respectively). To look for potential changes between the first two decades of the 21st century, we compared the mean ASMR of each geographic region in Greece between two different 10-year subperiods (2000–2009 and 2010–2019). Except for Epirus, all regions of Greece had elevated regional ASMRs, particularly in those with the highest asbestos deposits. Notably, the ASMR in Epirus decreased from 0.54/100000person-years (2000–2009) to 0.31/100000person-years (2010–2019). After 2011, the ASMR for men and the general population stabilized. This stability is important since mesothelioma in men is associated with occupational asbestos exposure. The intriguing discovery of a lower ASMR in Epirus emphasizes the need to raise awareness of the condition and implement effective public health measures.ConclusionsIn Greece, the annual ASMR for males and the whole population reached its highest level in 2011, which is positive and encouraging and may be a sign that the rate will stabilize during the following years. Moreover, this study showed that the actions made in the 1980s regarding public awareness and surveillance directly impacted the decrease in Epirus rates. Future research, continual awareness, information, and recording are needed to monitor the mesothelioma epidemic. The possible benefit of a mesothelioma registry and the epidemiological surveillance of asbestos-related diseases, particularly mesothelioma mortality, need to be addressed.Trial registrationNot applicable.

Asbestos: detection and characterization in tissue

When asbestos fibers are inhaled, asbestos bodies can form in the lungs with the involvement of macrophages. It can take decades from the last exposure to the onset of an asbestos-related disease. The aim of this review is to present methods to detect asbestos bodies in lung tissue, the development of diagnostic criteria and to discuss pros and cons of different methods. Observations and evaluations from the German Mesothelioma Register, along with relevant literature review and expert recommendations in guidelines are presented. Assessing asbestos-related diseases requires recognition of the person's occupational history, the asbestos fiber burden in the lungs, and determining fiber types. Various methods have been developed and validated, including light microscopy techniques such as bright-field microscopy, phase-contrast microscopy, polarization microscopy, and differential interference microscopy, as well as electron microscopy techniques like field-emission-scanning electron microscopy (e.g., FE-SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The use of asbestos has been heavily restricted worldwide, even completely banned in Europe. Thus, patients' exposure to asbestos is decreasing. However, asbestos exposure during renovations, demolitions, or through unconscious handling of asbestos-containing materials remains aconcern.

The Asbestos Remediation: The Experience of the Lazio Region

With the enactment of Law 257/92, ‘Regulations on the cessation of the use of asbestos’, Italy established the goal of phasing out asbestos use and preventing occupational and environmental exposures. Article 9 of the aforementioned law mandates that companies using asbestos, directly or indirectly in production processes, or those involved in the remediation, transport, storage, and/or disposal of asbestos-containing materials (ACMs), submit an annual detailed report to the Regional Authorities and the Occupational Health and Safety Services of the relevant local health units (ASL). This report must include, in addition to the types and quantities of asbestos remediated, the type of waste subject to disposal and/or remediation, the activities and procedures applied, as well as data on the workers involved, specifying the nature and duration of their activities, the type of exposure they face, and the measures taken to protect their health and the environment. This study compares the annual data on asbestos operations within the Lazio Region to identify potential improvements in asbestos remediation processes. The study also assesses the potential impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the activities of companies dealing with asbestos in the Lazio Region. The data, collected and processed by the U.O.C. Regional Asbestos Reference Center (CRRA) and published as annual reports pursuant to Article 9 of Law 257/92 on the website www.prevenzioneonline.net, cover the period from 2012 to 2022. The analysis of the collected data highlights the usefulness of the digital tools developed by the CRRA and made available to companies. It is hoped that the online data submission system for asbestos operations will be extended nationwide to achieve a standardized representation of the issue. The annual data on asbestos operations in the Lazio Region show a significant number of interventions, which has remained relatively stable over time. Given the large quantities of ACMs still present in the area, the CRRA, drawing on experiences already gained in some Italian regions, is considering experimenting with the remediation technique through autonomous micro-collections. Regarding the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the activities of asbestos-related companies in the Lazio Region, the data analysis for the years 2020-2022 shows that the remediation sector did not suffer significant negative effects due to the pandemic or the resulting state of emergency.

A postmortem case control study of asbestos burden in lungs of malignant mesothelioma cases

BackgroundAsbestos lung content is regarded as the most reliable tool for causal attribution of malignant mesothelioma (MM) to previous asbestos exposures. However, there is a lack of studies on asbestos burden in lungs of MM patients in comparison with healthy individuals. This study aims to provide such a comparison, investigating, as well, differences in asbestos lung burden with sex and time trends.MethodsAsbestos lung content has been assessed on formalin-fixed lung fragments using scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersion spectroscopy (SEM–EDS) on individuals deceased from MM (cases) and healthy subjects without any lung disease who died from violent causes (controls) between 2005 and 2023.ResultsAsbestos and asbestos bodies (ABs) were found, respectively, in 73.7% and 43.2% of cases and in 28 and 22% of controls; in MM cases the most represented asbestos types were crocidolite and amosite, whereas in controls it was tremolite-actinolite asbestos. The concentration of both asbestos fibers and ABs was statistically significantly higher in MM cases compared to controls. The mean asbestos fibers width was also significantly higher in cases than controls. Males and females with MM showed similar asbestos and ABs concentrations, but females had higher concentrations of chrysotile, and significantly lower fibers width compared to males. Time trends show that MM lung asbestos concentrations decreased starting in 2011.DiscussionThe results suggest a correlation between asbestos burden in lungs and MM risk. The different concentration of chrysotile, as well as the different width of asbestos fibers in MM males and females might reflect a sex difference in response of the lung microenvironment to inhaled asbestos. Finally, this study provides the first pathological evidence of the effect of the ban of asbestos use, demonstrating a significant decrease of asbestos lung content after 2011.

Colorectal Cancer: 35 Cases in Asbestos-Exposed Workers

Background: Asbestos is considered one of the major global work-related carcinogens. Some studies suggest a potential causal relationship between asbestos exposure and colorectal cancer (CRC). However, the role of asbestos in CRC carcinogenesis is still controversial. Methods: 35 claims of occupational CRC among asbestos-exposed workers were reviewed. All claims were rejected by the Italian National Institute for Insurance against Accidents (INAIL) due to the “lack of scientific evidence in the causality” between asbestos exposure and CRC; causality was finally assessed in civil trials. All cases were categorized by age, gender, industry type, task, exposure and latency periods, anatomical location, and histopathological characteristics of CRC and concomitant respiratory diseases. Results: Most workers were males aged 60 years or more and employed in occupational activities with extensive use of asbestos for over 20 years. In 31 out of 35 cases, CRC was diagnosed over 39 years after employment. Right-sided colic adenocarcinoma was diagnosed in nine cases; rectum was involved in eight cases. Respiratory comorbidities were observed in 22 workers. Conclusions: Our study provides some interesting points in the assessment of the causal relationship between asbestos exposure and CRC.

The German experience with asbestos-related diseases: a failure of compensation due to the manipulation of science

The world pandemic of asbestos-related diseases results from inadequate prevention and late bans on asbestos use. For years in Germany there has been an annual average of about ten thousand new claims. Many countries deny compensation due to unsound diagnostic applications that have entered into the literature and are used to deny compensation. One such well-established incorrect scientific strategy is the use of quantifying asbestos bodies or fibers in lung tissue and setting restrictive thresholds on the findings in tissues of workers who had been exposed primarily to chrysotile which shows low bio-persistence, movement to the pleura, and rarely forms asbestos bodies. The so called one thousand asbestos body hypothesis for the diagnosis of asbestosis, originating from the German Mesothelioma Register run by the employers’ statutory accident insurance institutions, has been applied in Germany and similarly in several other western countries. As opposed to the well-substantiated hit and run phenomena that has been predominantly applied to chrysotile asbestos, low asbestos body or fiber counts in tissue had been systematically misinterpreted. This, combined with restrictive histopathology definitions, have been used for the manipulation not only of diagnostic criteria but also of science and has had an effect on laws governing compensation. The counting of asbestos bodies or fibers in human lungs should under no circumstances invalidate a qualified occupational history of exposure as the hallmark requisite tool for assessing asbestos exposure and acceptance of asbestos-related diseases in compensation schemes. An outcome suggested by this paper is the need to broaden the WHO beneficial initiative to eliminate ARD worldwide by establishment of an international board of independent scientists on remedial action that would recommend standards for acknowledgement and compensation. Such a board should be supported by national legal branches recognizing possible regional differences and initiating compliance with the recommendations.

Progress in polymeric and metallic brake pads: A comprehensive review

The use of asbestos in brake pads is being eliminated due to its carcinogenic effect. Due to this, there is a need for better alternative in the brake pad material to replace asbestos fibers. This leads to the development of more natural fibers/filler-based brake pads which are safer to the environment, cheaper, and readily available. Moreover, bio fillers-based brake pads have shown excellent performance compared to asbestos. This paper addresses the different composition of brake pad materials and manufacturing techniques. Common binders like epoxy resin, Phenolic resin-based brake pads were analyzed and its effect on the mechanical, tribological, and thermal performance were critically analyzed. Also, the performance of metal matrix-based brake pad has been analyzed in detail. It has been observed that utilizing natural fibers as a reinforcement provides an excellent braking performance compared to metallic and carbon fiber-based brake pads. This research will open new avenues towards “Net Zero.”

An Approach to Overcome the Limitations of Surveillance of Asbestos Related Diseases in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: What We Learned from the Sibaté Study in Colombia.

The asbestos industry began its operations in Colombia in 1942 with the establishment of an asbestos-cement facility in Sibaté, located in the Department of Cundinamarca. Despite extensive asbestos use and production in Colombia, the country lacks a reliable epidemiological surveillance system to monitor the health effects of asbestos exposure. The Colombian health information system, known as SISPRO, did not report mesothelioma cases diagnosed in the municipality, posing a significant challenge in understanding the health impacts of asbestos exposure on the population of Sibaté. To address this issue, an active surveillance strategy was implemented in Sibaté. This strategy involved conducting door-to-door health and socioeconomic structured interviews to identify Asbestos-Related Diseases (ARDs). Validation strategies included a thorough review of medical records by a panel of physicians, and the findings were communicated to local, regional, and national authorities, as well as the general population. The active surveillance strategy successfully identified a mesothelioma cluster in Sibaté, revealing the inadequacy of the existing health information system in monitoring asbestos-related diseases. The discovery of this cluster underscores the critical importance of implementing active surveillance strategies in Colombia, where governmental institutions and resources are often limited. The findings of this study emphasize the urgent need for Colombia to establish a reliable epidemiological surveillance system for asbestos-related diseases (ARDs). Active surveillance strategies can play a crucial role in identifying mesothelioma clusters and enhancing our understanding of the health effects of asbestos exposure in low- and middle-income countries.

The role of CD24 as a potential biomarker for malignant pleural mesothelioma

Abstract Objectives Pleural mesothelioma is a rapidly progressing pleural neoplasm caused by asbestos exposure of a long latency around 30-40 years. Patients with mesothelioma are usually diagnosed at a late stage with poor outcomes in terms of morbidity and mortality with 6–12 months’ median survival. Despite the prohibited use of asbestos, malignant pleural mesothelioma is still increasingly being occurred in young age and female patients. Different un-standardized biomarkers have been used to diagnose MPM as mesothelin and febulin with controversial results, so we used CD 24 as a biomarker to diagnose and differentiate between different subtypes of malignant pleural mesothelioma. Materials and methods Our cohort study included total of fifty-nine patients with exudative pleural effusion. All patients underwent full history taking, clinical examination, blood tests (CBC, coagulation profile, liver and kidney functions), tapping of pleural effusion and to send pleural fluid investigations for LDH, albumin, total protein and albumin, then confirmed exudative pleural effusion patients were subjected to thoracic ultrasonography and medical thoracoscopy for the majority of cases or ultrasound guided biopsy in selected cases to obtain pleural biopsies for histopathology and then the examination of pleural biopsies for CD24 expression. Results Our study demonstrated the possibility of using CD24 as a biomarker in the immunostaining of pleural biopsies to differentiate between malignant pleural mesothelioma and pleural malignancy other than mesothelioma (18 mesothelioma cases versus 2 nonmesothelioma malignant cases) with high statistical significance P value < 0.001 and also it can discriminate between subtypes of mesothelioma as it showed marked significance in epithelioid subtype (12 epithelioid versus 1 sarcomatoid versus 5 biphasic subtypes) with more uptake by score +2 in epithelioid mesothelioma. Conclusions CD24 can be supposed to be a routine biomarker for immunohistochemistry of pleural tissue samples in diagnosis of mesothelioma and it can be used to differentiate between subtypes of malignant mesothelioma subtypes.

Occupational Asbestos Related Diseases in Indonesia: A Call for Urgent Action and Awareness

Despite many countries have either reduced or banned asbestos use, Indonesia has yet to ban the use of asbestos. Asbestos exposure poses significant health risks, particularly respiratory diseases such asbestos-related lung cancer, mesothelioma, and asbestosis known as an asbestos-related disease. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), asbestos is a major global health concern with millions of people exposed to its hazards and resulting in a significant number of deaths each year. We conducted a literature review study on the topic of asbestos-related diseases in Indonesia. Based on our findings, due to the large amount of asbestos being handled, it is expected that there should be hundreds to a thousand cases of asbestos-related disorders in Indonesia each year. Unfortunetely it is uncommon to find and diagnose cases of asbestos-related diseases in Indonesia. The lack of awareness, inadequate diagnosis, and underreporting of asbestos-related diseases contribute to the challenges faced in Indonesia. The study emphasizes the need for a comprehensive ban on asbestos, safer alternative materials, standardized medical surveillance for exposed workers, increased awareness and cooperation among stakeholders to eliminate asbestos-related diseases in Indonesia.

재건축 안전진단 제도 개선 방안 연구

Reconstruction contributes to improving the quality of life of residents by creating an aging, unstable and poor residential environment into a safe and pleasant residential environment, and is also an important means of realizing basic constitutional rights such as people's right to pursue happiness, property rights, and housing freedom. However, the reconstruction project is causing a lot of confusion to the housing market and the people as related laws and systems repeatedly regulate and ease due to the ups and downs of the housing market and regime change.
 Accordingly, this study attempted to investigate and analyze legislative system improvement efforts raised by the National Assembly on the “Safety Diagnosis Standards for Housing Reconstruction” announced by the government and derive reasonable system improvement measures through Delphi, experts related to safety diagnosis. Based on this process, I would like to propose a plan to improve the current housing reconstruction safety diagnosis system.
 First, the authority to determine safety diagnosis, including the composition and ratio of each item of the safety diagnosis evaluation criteria, should be delegated to the head of the metropolitan government. Critics say that the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport does not reflect the characteristics of the region and hinders the smooth promotion of reconstruction projects by setting safety diagnosis standards uniformly and uniformly in different situations. Therefore, it is necessary to delegate the authority to decide on safety diagnosis standards to the heads of metropolitan local governments.
 Second, Article 2, Subparagraph 3 (b) of the current Urban Improvement Act defines “significant functional defects among buildings that have not secured seismic performance” as old-age defective buildings. However, whether or not seismic design is reflected in the structural safety evaluation item is omitted. Structural safety assessment items should include whether seismic design is reflected.
 Third, although geological conditions and ground conditions have a very significant impact on the structural safety of buildings, geological conditions and ground conditions are omitted from the structural stability evaluation items. The omission of these important evaluation factors is a factor that degrades the validity and reliability of the safety diagnosis evaluation results.
 Fourth, the use of asbestos building materials should be reflected in the safety diagnosis evaluation items. When inhaled into the human body, asbestos, a first-class carcinogen designated by the World Health Organization, causes fatal diseases such as asbestos lung disease, lung cancer, and malignant mesothelioma. Therefore, in Korea, the Asbestos Safety Management Act has been enacted to thoroughly manage asbestos exposure contained in buildings so that it does not damage public health.
 Fifth, it is necessary for local governments to support certain costs incurred by conducting safety diagnosis for housing reconstruction. However, some say that local governments should not invest in projects to rebuild private property, but the reconstruction project improves the residential environment of owners, such as local land, while creating public benefits such as roads, parks, community facilities, and public rental housing. It is currently supported by some local governments.

Australia’s Ongoing Challenge of Legacy Asbestos in the Built Environment: A Review of Contemporary Asbestos Exposure Risks

Asbestos remains ubiquitous in the Australian built environment. Of the 13 million tonnes of asbestos products installed in earlier decades, an estimated 50% remain in situ today. Because of the extensive past use of asbestos, and the increasing age of these products, the potential for exposure to asbestos fibres in both indoor and outdoor environments remains high, even while the actual asbestos exposure levels are mostly very low. Sources of these exposures include disturbance of in situ asbestos-containing materials (ACMs), for example during renovations or following disaster events such as fires, cyclones and floods. Our understanding of the risk of asbestos-related disease arising from long-term low-level or background exposure, however, is poor. We provide the most up-to-date review of asbestos exposure risks currently affecting different groups of the Australian population and the settings in which this can manifest. From this, a need for low-level asbestos monitoring has emerged, and further research is required to address whether current exposure monitoring approaches are adequate. In addition, we make the case for proactive asbestos removal to reduce the risk of ongoing asbestos contamination and exposure due to deteriorating, disturbed or damaged ACMs, while improving long-term building sustainability, as well as the sustainability of limited resources.

Mongolia: Failure of Total Banning of Asbestos.

The primary uses of asbestos in Mongolia are in thermal power plants, construction and at railway companies. There is, however, limited data on both asbestos consumption and asbestos related disease (ARD) in Mongolia. The purpose of this paper is to report on the failure to completely ban asbestos in Mongolia. To write this paper, available asbestos related literature, published nationally and internationally, and legal regulations, national standards and guidelines on asbestos control were reviewed. Mongolia consumed a total of 44,421.9 metric tons of asbestos containing materials (AMCs) between 1996 and 2014. As a key indicator of ARD, 54 cases of mesothelioma were diagnosed at the National Cancer Center by pathological testing of tissue samples between 1994 and 2013. In 2010, The government made the decision to stop all types of asbestos use under the Law on Toxic and Hazardous Substances. However, there was no nationwide action plan to gradually reduce asbestos use, promote substitutes and raise awareness of health hazards and economic burdens in the future from asbestos use. There was also no planning for safe removal of asbestos currently in place. After the banning of asbestos, thermal power plants told the government that they could not produce electricity without insulation of AMCs and substitution materials were economically not feasible. Due to pressure from the energy sector and inadequate awareness of asbestos hazards, the government changed the legal status on asbestos in 2011 as a restricted chemical. Asbestos is still allowed to be used, and workers and the general community are still unnecessarily exposed to this carcinogen.

The experimental modeling of asbestos-tempered vessels

The tradition of mixing asbestos into pottery clay originated near the deposits of this mineral on the lake Saimaa (Finland) in the 5th millennium BC. By the second half of the 4th millennium BC its area reached the Arkhangelsk and Vologda Regions of Russia in the east. The aim of the work is to review the functional hypothesis, according to which the widespread use of asbestos as an admixture is due to its advantages over other additives facilitating the process of molding and drying, preventing flaws during firing, making the vessel durable and easy to use. According to the results of our experiments on the making of vessels and model samples with asbestos it turned out that the used asbestos of the Chevzhavara deposit (tremolite-ferroactinolite) does not have such advantages. The most important problem was the dissociation of asbestos at temperatures above +700C. After such firing, the vessels were destroyed, and the asbestos itself became brittle. It can be assumed that in order to minimize losses during the firing, the ancient potters could beforehand hold the asbestos at a high temperature so that it would lose the main amount of water but keep its stability. It can be preliminarily concluded that asbestos admixture at an early stage of use did not have clear advantages over other additives. The reasons for the initial interest in asbestos as an additive could be other, e.g. socio-cultural. A special developed technology for processing asbestos, which made it possible to use its advantages, spread around the beginning of the Bronze Age and may be associated with the beginning of metalworking.

Analysis of the Indian Government’s position on the use of asbestos and its health effects

Based on WHO guidance, all forms of asbestos are a health risk. In India, the mining of asbestos has been stopped, but chrysotile (a type of asbestos) is still imported and processed in large quantities. Chrysotile is mainly used for asbestos-cement roofing, and the manufacturers claim its use to be safe. We sought to understand the Indian Government’s position on the use of asbestos. To do so, we have analysed the replies of the executive wing of the Indian Government to questions on asbestos in the Indian Parliament. This revealed that, despite a mining ban, the government has defended the import, processing and continued use of asbestos.

The Effect of Smoking on Work-Related Diseases and the Consequences of Exposure to Occupational Harmful Agents at Workplace

Background: Cross-sectional studies have shown that smokers have lower mental and physical health status than non-smokers. Smoking also has aggravating effects on workers who were exposed to the harmful factors of the work environment, noise, and asbestos. Materials and Methods: The present study is a review and similar to other review studies, it was done by examining the findings and results of other studies. In order to search for related materials, keywords and their synonyms were searched in medical databases and their contents were analyzed and classified into three areas. Results: These areas include "aggravating effects of smoking in workers exposed to noise", "aggravating effects of smoking in workers exposed to asbestos" and "the effects of smoking on cognitive performance of workers". Conclusion: The results of the studies showed that education about the aggravating effects of smoking on occupational diseases, medical examinations of workers, elimination or limitation of asbestos use, and conducting psychological tests can be suggested as suitable solutions that fit the culture and capabilities of the country’s health system.

The Past, Present and Future of Asbestos-Related Diseases in Australia: What Are the Data Telling Us?

Exposure to asbestos fibres causes asbestosis, mesothelioma and several other cancers, which together are commonly referred to as asbestos-related diseases (ARDs). The use of asbestos increased rapidly in Australia and overseas throughout the 1900s, but knowledge about the health effects of exposure and subsequent controls came about more gradually. In Australia today, an estimated 4000 people still die annually from ARDs. While most of these deaths are due to past occupational exposures, there is ongoing concern about the many potential sources of asbestos exposure remaining in homes and the broader built environment as a legacy of past use. Current evidence indicates that Australians will continue to be exposed to legacy asbestos occupationally and non-occupationally, and continue to develop ARDs, without targeted action to prevent it. Evidence of ongoing exposure highlights the importance of better understanding how and why such exposures might still occur, and how they can be effectively prevented or controlled, with the aim of preventing the disease in the future. A better characterisation of this risk is also necessary to enable effective risk management and appropriate risk communication that is relevant to the current Australian context. This article explores the past, present and future of ARDs in Australia, considers the risk of a new wave of ARDs from legacy asbestos, and identifies where further study is required so that sustainable policies and practices can be developed to prevent a future wave of diseases.