Clin Respir J. 2013 May 27. doi: 10.1111/crj.12028. [Epub ahead of print]
Asbestos and the lung in the 21st century: an update.
Source
University of New South Wales, Faculty of Medicine, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Respiratory Medicine Department, Prince of Wales Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
Abstract
The asbestos-related disorders (ARDs) are currently of significant occupational and public health concern. Asbestos usage has been banned in most developed countries but asbestos is still used in many developing countries and the number of cases of asbestos-related disorders worldwide is rising. Many countries are now experiencing an epidemic of asbestos-related diseases which is the legacy of occupational exposure in the 1960s-80s, due to the long latency period between asbestos exposure and manifestation of disease. It is likely that asbestos-related mortality and morbidity will continue to increase. Although the most feared complications of asbestos inhalation are the malignant conditions such as mesothelioma and lung cancer, asbestos inhalation more frequently results in benign conditions such as pleural plaques, diffuse pleural thickening and asbestosis (pulmonary fibrosis due to asbestos). Over recent years, there have been changes in the epidemiology of mesothelioma, in clinical management of ARDs and developments in new techniques for early detection of malignancy. This review provides an update on the respiratory manifestations of asbestos exposure, and also considers advances in screening methods which may affect future management in the workplace.
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