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Stefanos N Kales - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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grand rounds Asbestos related pericarditis in a boiler operator
Environmental Health Perspectives, 2007Co-Authors: Belayneh Abejie, Eugene H Chung, Richard W Nesto, Stefanos N KalesAbstract:ContextOccupational and environmental exposures to Asbestos remain a public health problem even in developed countries. Because of the long latency in Asbestos-related pathology, past Asbestos expo...
Ken Takahashi - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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global Asbestos disaster
2018Co-Authors: Sugio Furuya, Ken Takahashi, Odgerel Chimedochir, Annette M David, Jukka TakalaAbstract:Introduction: Asbestos has been used for thousands of years but only at a large industrial scale for about 100–150 years. The first identified disease was Asbestosis, a type of incurable pneumoconiosis caused by Asbestos dust and fibres. The latest estimate of global number of Asbestosis deaths from the Global Burden of Disease estimate 2016 is 3495. Asbestos-caused cancer was identified in the late 1930’s but despite today’s overwhelming evidence of the strong carcinogenicity of all Asbestos types, including chrysotile, it is still widely used globally. Various estimates have been made over time including those of World Health Organization and International Labour Organization: 107,000–112,000 deaths. Present estimates are much higher. Objective: This article summarizes the special edition of this Journal related to Asbestos and key aspects of the past and present of the Asbestos problem globally. The objective is to collect and provide the latest evidence of the magnitude of Asbestos-related diseases and to provide the present best data for revitalizing the International Labor Organization/World Health Organization Joint Program on Asbestos-related Diseases. Methods: Documentation on Asbestos-related diseases, their recognition, reporting, compensation and prevention efforts were examined, in particular from the regulatory and prevention point of view. Estimated global numbers of incidence and mortality of Asbestos-related diseases were examined. Results: Asbestos causes an estimated 255,000 deaths (243,223–260,029) annually according to latest knowledge, of which work-related exposures are responsible for 233,000 deaths (222,322–242,802). In the European Union, United States of America and in other high income economies (World Health Organization regional classification) the direct costs for sickness, early retirement and death, including production losses, have been estimated to be very high; in the Western European countries and European Union, and equivalent of 0.70% of the Gross Domestic Product or 114 × 109 United States Dollars. Intangible costs could be much higher. When applying the Value of Statistical Life of 4 million EUR per cancer death used by the European Commission, we arrived at 410 × 109 United States Dollars loss related to occupational cancer and 340 × 109 related to Asbestos exposure at work, while the human suffering and loss of life is impossible to quantify. The numbers and costs are increasing practically in every country and region in the world. Asbestos has been banned in 55 countries but is used widely today; some 2,030,000 tons consumed annually according to the latest available consumption data. Every 20 tons of Asbestos produced and consumed kills a person somewhere in the world. Buying 1 kg of Asbestos powder, e.g., in Asia, costs 0.38 United States Dollars, and 20 tons would cost in such retail market 7600 United States Dollars. Conclusions: Present efforts to eliminate this man-made problem, in fact an epidemiological disaster, and preventing exposures leading to it are insufficient in most countries in the world. Applying programs and policies, such as those for the elimination of all kind of Asbestos use—that is banning of new Asbestos use and tight control and management of existing structures containing Asbestos—need revision and resources. The International Labor Organization/World Health Organization Joint Program for the Elimination of Asbestos-Related Diseases needs to be revitalized. Exposure limits do not protect properly against cancer but for Asbestos removal and equivalent exposure elimination work, we propose a limit value of 1000 fibres/m3.
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Global Asbestos Disaster
MDPI AG, 2018Co-Authors: Sugio Furuya, Annette David, Ken Takahashi, Odgerel Chimed-ochir, Jukka TakalaAbstract:Introduction: Asbestos has been used for thousands of years but only at a large industrial scale for about 100–150 years. The first identified disease was Asbestosis, a type of incurable pneumoconiosis caused by Asbestos dust and fibres. The latest estimate of global number of Asbestosis deaths from the Global Burden of Disease estimate 2016 is 3495. Asbestos-caused cancer was identified in the late 1930’s but despite today’s overwhelming evidence of the strong carcinogenicity of all Asbestos types, including chrysotile, it is still widely used globally. Various estimates have been made over time including those of World Health Organization and International Labour Organization: 107,000–112,000 deaths. Present estimates are much higher. Objective: This article summarizes the special edition of this Journal related to Asbestos and key aspects of the past and present of the Asbestos problem globally. The objective is to collect and provide the latest evidence of the magnitude of Asbestos-related diseases and to provide the present best data for revitalizing the International Labor Organization/World Health Organization Joint Program on Asbestos-related Diseases. Methods: Documentation on Asbestos-related diseases, their recognition, reporting, compensation and prevention efforts were examined, in particular from the regulatory and prevention point of view. Estimated global numbers of incidence and mortality of Asbestos-related diseases were examined. Results: Asbestos causes an estimated 255,000 deaths (243,223–260,029) annually according to latest knowledge, of which work-related exposures are responsible for 233,000 deaths (222,322–242,802). In the European Union, United States of America and in other high income economies (World Health Organization regional classification) the direct costs for sickness, early retirement and death, including production losses, have been estimated to be very high; in the Western European countries and European Union, and equivalent of 0.70% of the Gross Domestic Product or 114 × 109 United States Dollars. Intangible costs could be much higher. When applying the Value of Statistical Life of 4 million EUR per cancer death used by the European Commission, we arrived at 410 × 109 United States Dollars loss related to occupational cancer and 340 × 109 related to Asbestos exposure at work, while the human suffering and loss of life is impossible to quantify. The numbers and costs are increasing practically in every country and region in the world. Asbestos has been banned in 55 countries but is used widely today; some 2,030,000 tons consumed annually according to the latest available consumption data. Every 20 tons of Asbestos produced and consumed kills a person somewhere in the world. Buying 1 kg of Asbestos powder, e.g., in Asia, costs 0.38 United States Dollars, and 20 tons would cost in such retail market 7600 United States Dollars. Conclusions: Present efforts to eliminate this man-made problem, in fact an epidemiological disaster, and preventing exposures leading to it are insufficient in most countries in the world. Applying programs and policies, such as those for the elimination of all kind of Asbestos use—that is banning of new Asbestos use and tight control and management of existing structures containing Asbestos—need revision and resources. The International Labor Organization/World Health Organization Joint Program for the Elimination of Asbestos-Related Diseases needs to be revitalized. Exposure limits do not protect properly against cancer but for Asbestos removal and equivalent exposure elimination work, we propose a limit value of 1000 fibres/m3
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Australia’s Ongoing Legacy of Asbestos: Significant Challenges Remain Even after the Complete Banning of Asbestos Almost Fifteen Years Ago
MDPI AG, 2018Co-Authors: Matthew Soeberg, Ken Takahashi, Deborah A. Vallance, Victoria Keena, James LeighAbstract:The most effective way of reducing the global burden of Asbestos-related diseases is through the implementation of Asbestos bans and minimising occupational and non-occupational exposure to respirable Asbestos fibres. Australia’s Asbestos consumption peaked in the 1970s with Australia widely thought to have had among the highest per-capita Asbestos consumption level of any country. Australia’s discontinuation of all forms of Asbestos and Asbestos-containing products and materials did not occur at a single point of time. Crocidolite consumption ceased in the late 1960s, followed by amosite consumption stopping in the mid 1980s. Despite significant government reports being published in 1990 and 1999, it was not until the end of 2003 that a complete ban on all forms of Asbestos (crocidolite, amosite, and chrysotile) was introduced in Australia. The sustained efforts of trade unions and non-governmental organisations were essential in forcing the Australian government to finally implement the 2003 Asbestos ban. Trade unions and non-government organisations continue to play a key role today in monitoring the government’s response to Australian Asbestos-related disease epidemic. There are significant challenges that remain in Australia, despite a complete Asbestos ban being implemented almost fifteen years ago. The Australian epidemic of Asbestos-related disease has only now reached its peak. A total of 16,679 people were newly diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma between 1982 and 2016, with 84% of cases occurring in men. There has been a stabilisation of the age-standardised malignant mesothelioma incidence rate in the last 10 years. In 2016, the incidence rate per 100,000 was 2.5 using the Australian standard population and 1.3 using the Segi world standard population. Despite Australia’s complete Asbestos ban being in place since 2003, public health efforts must continue to focus on preventing the devastating effects of avoidable Asbestos-related diseases, including occupational and non-occupational groups who are potentially at risk from exposure to respirable Asbestos fibres
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Asbestos and Asbestos related diseases in vietnam in reference to the international labor organization world health organization national Asbestos profile
Safety and health at work, 2013Co-Authors: Van Hai Pham, Hisashi Ogawa, Thi Ngoc Lan Tran, Mehrnoosh Movahed, Ying Jiang, Nguyen Ha Pham, Ken TakahashiAbstract:This paper describes progress on formulating a national Asbestos profile for the country of Vietnam. The Center of Asbestos Resource, Vietnam, formulated a National Profile on Asbestos-related Occupational Health, with due reference to the International Labor Organization/World Health Organization National Asbestos Profile. The Center of Asbestos Resource was established by the Vietnamese Health Environment Management Agency and the National Institute of Labor Protection, with the support of the Australian Agency for International Development, as a coordinating point for Asbestos-related issues in Vietnam. Under the National Profile on Asbestos-related Occupational Health framework, the Center of Asbestos Resource succeeded in compiling relevant information for 15 of the 18 designated items outlined in the International Labor Organization/World Health Organization National Asbestos Profile, some overlaps of the information items notwithstanding. Today, Vietnam continues to import and use an average of more than 60,000 metric tons of raw Asbestos per year. Information on Asbestos-related diseases is limited, but the country has begun to diagnose mesothelioma cases, with the technical cooperation of Japan. As it stands, the National Profile on Asbestos-related Occupational Health needs further work and updating. However, we envisage that the National Profile on Asbestos-related Occupational Health will ultimately facilitate the smooth transition to an Asbestos-free Vietnam.
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a baseline profile of Asbestos in the us affiliated pacific islands
International Journal of Occupational and Environmental Health, 2012Co-Authors: Annette David, Hisashi Ogawa, Ken TakahashiAbstract:Asbestos is a recognized occupational and environmental hazard in the Asia-Pacific region, yet information regarding Asbestos consumption, exposure, and Asbestos-related diseases in the US-affiliated Pacific Islands (USAPIs) is scarce, and the situation regarding Asbestos in these islands, particularly with regard to disease burden, surveillance, and health care capacity, is not well understood. Searching through scientific and “gray” literature and interviews with local cancer registry personnel and health professionals yielded no published data, only sufficient, indirect evidence of past and ongoing Asbestos exposure, documented cases of mesothelioma and Asbestosis, and minimal capacity for preventing and recognizing Asbestos-related illnesses. Capacity and resource limitations within the USAPIs can impede regional progress in Asbestos prevention and highlight the need for an integrated regional approach to address these data and capacity gaps. A regional mechanism to share expertise and resources and f...
Kales, Stefanos Nicholas - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Grand Rounds: Asbestos-Related Pericarditis in a Boiler Operator
'Environmental Health Perspectives', 2011Co-Authors: Abejie, Belayneh A., Nesto, Richard W., Chung, Eugene H., Kales, Stefanos NicholasAbstract:Context: Occupational and environmental exposures to Asbestos remain a public health problem even in developed countries. Because of the long latency in Asbestos-related pathology, past Asbestos exposure continues to contribute to incident disease. Asbestos most commonly produces pulmonary pathology, with Asbestos-related pleural disease as the most common manifestation. Although the pleurae and pericardium share certain histologic characteristics, Asbestos-related pericarditis is rarely reported. Case presentation: We present a 59-year-old man who worked around boilers for almost 30 years and was eventually determined to have calcific, constrictive pericarditis. He initially presented with an infectious exacerbation of chronic bronchitis. Chest radiographs demonstrated pleural and pericardial calcifications. Further evaluation with cardiac catheterization showed a hemodynamic picture consistent with constrictive pericarditis. A high-resolution computerized tomography scan of the chest demonstrated dense calcification in the pericardium, right pleural thickening and nodularity, right pleural plaque without calcification, and density in the right middle lobe. Pulmonary function testing showed mild obstruction and borderline low diffusing capacity. Discussion: Based on the patient’s occupational history, the presence of pleural pathology consistent with Asbestos, previous evidence that Asbestos can affect the pericardium, and absence of other likely explanations, we concluded that his pericarditis was Asbestos-related. Relevance to clinical practice: Similar to pleural thickening and plaque formation, Asbestos may cause progressive fibrosis of the pericardium
Steven B Markowitz - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Asbestos related lung cancer and malignant mesothelioma of the pleura selected current issues
Seminars in Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, 2015Co-Authors: Steven B MarkowitzAbstract:Asbestos-related diseases persist, because millions of workers have had prior exposure and many industrializing countries continue to use Asbestos. Globally, an estimated 107,000 people die annually from lung cancer, malignant mesothelioma, and Asbestosis due to occupational Asbestos exposure. Malignant mesothelioma and lung cancer are caused by all major types of Asbestos. Asbestos causes more lung cancer deaths than malignant mesothelioma of the pleura; most cases of the latter are due to Asbestos exposure. The cancer risk increases with cumulative Asbestos exposure, with increased risk even at low levels of exposure to Asbestos. Based on empirical studies, an estimated cumulative occupational exposure to Asbestos of 1 fiber/mL-year substantially raises malignant mesothelioma risk. No safe threshold for Asbestos exposure has been established for lung cancer and mesothelioma. The validity of fiber-type risk assessments depends critically on the quality of exposure assessments, which vary considerably, leading to a high degree of uncertainty. Asbestos exposure without Asbestosis and smoking increases the risk of lung cancer. The joint effect of Asbestos and smoking is supra-additive, which may depend in part on the presence of Asbestosis. Asbestos workers who cease smoking experience a dramatic drop in lung cancer risk, which approaches that of nonsmokers after 30 years. Studies to date show that longer, thinner fibers have a stronger association with lung cancer than shorter, less thin fibers, but the latter nonetheless also show an association with lung cancer and mesothelioma. Low-dose chest computed tomographic scanning offers an unprecedented opportunity to detect early-stage lung cancers in Asbestos-exposed workers.
P. Boffetta - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Estimating the Asbestos-related lung cancer burden from mesothelioma mortality
Breast Cancer Research and Treatment, 2012Co-Authors: V. Mccormack, J. Peto, G. Byrnes, K. Straif, P. BoffettaAbstract:BACKGROUND: Quantifying the Asbestos-related lung cancer burden is difficult in the presence of this disease's multiple causes. We explore two methods to estimate this burden using mesothelioma deaths as a proxy for Asbestos exposure. METHODS: From the follow-up of 55 Asbestos cohorts, we estimated ratios of (i) absolute number of Asbestos-related lung cancers to mesothelioma deaths; (ii) excess lung cancer relative risk (%) to mesothelioma mortality per 1000 non-Asbestos-related deaths. RESULTS: Ratios varied by Asbestos type; there were a mean 0.7 (95% confidence interval 0.5, 1.0) Asbestos-related lung cancers per mesothelioma death in crocidolite cohorts (n=6 estimates), 6.1 (3.6, 10.5) in chrysotile (n=16), 4.0 (2.8, 5.9) in amosite (n=4) and 1.9 (1.4, 2.6) in mixed Asbestos fibre cohorts (n=31). In a population with 2 mesothelioma deaths per 1000 deaths at ages 40-84 years (e.g., US men), the estimated lung cancer population attributable fraction due to mixed Asbestos was estimated to be 4.0%. CONCLUSION: All types of Asbestos fibres kill at least twice as many people through lung cancer than through mesothelioma, except for crocidolite. For chrysotile, widely consumed today, Asbestos-related lung cancers cannot be robustly estimated from few mesothelioma deaths and the latter cannot be used to infer no excess risk of lung or other cancers.
