Occupational Burden of Asbestos-Related Diseases in Korea, 1998-2013: Asbestosis, Mesothelioma, Lung Cancer, Laryngeal Cancer, and Ovarian Cancer

Asbestos exposure causes asbestos-related diseases (ARDs) including asbestosis, malignant mesothelioma, lung cancer, laryngeal cancer, and ovarian cancer. Although Korea used substantial amounts of asbestos in the past, no study has focused on its occupational burden of disease (OBD). Therefore, thi...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of Korean medical science 2018, 33(35), , pp.1-9
Main Authors: Kang, Dong-Mug, Kim, Jong-Eun, Kim, Young-Ki, Lee, Hyun-Hee, Kim, Se-Yeong
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aged
Asbestos - adverse effects
Asbestosis
Europe
Female
Humans
Laryngeal Neoplasms
Lung Neoplasms
Male
Mesothelioma
Middle Aged
Occupational Diseases - chemically induced
Occupational Exposure
Original
Ovarian Neoplasms
Republic of Korea
의학일반
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Summary:Asbestos exposure causes asbestos-related diseases (ARDs) including asbestosis, malignant mesothelioma, lung cancer, laryngeal cancer, and ovarian cancer. Although Korea used substantial amounts of asbestos in the past, no study has focused on its occupational burden of disease (OBD). Therefore, this study aimed to determine the OBDs of ARDs in Korea. The CARcinogen Exposure (CAREX) database was used to determine the proportion of exposed population. Relative risks for lung cancer, laryngeal cancer, and ovarian cancer were used to determine the population-attributable fraction. Data for deaths caused by ARDs during 1998-2013 were obtained from the World Health Organization mortality database. The potential years of life lost (PYLL) and annual average PYLL (APYLL) indicated OBDs. In Korea, the number of ARD-attributable deaths and PYLL due to all ARDs during 1998-2013 were 4,492 and 71,763.7, respectively. The number of attributable deaths and PYLL due to asbestosis, malignant mesothelioma, lung cancer, laryngeal cancer, and ovarian cancer were 37 and 554.2, 808 and 15,877.0, 3,256 and 47,375.9, 120 and 1,605.5, and 271 and 6,331.1, respectively; additionally, the APYLL were 15.0, 19.7, 14.6, 13.4, and 23.4, respectively, and the average age at death was 70.4, 62.6, 69.1, 69.9, and 61.8, respectively. Our study showed that although the use of asbestos has ceased in Korea, the incidence of ARDs tends to increase. Therefore, efforts to reduce future OBDs of ARDs, including early detection and proper management of ARDs, are needed in Korea.
ISSN:1011-8934
1598-6357
DOI:10.3346/jkms.2018.33.e226