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Definitions
Care should
be taken to distinguish between several forms of relevant
diseases. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) (
http://www.euro.who.int/document/aiq/6_2_asbestos.pdf ),
these may defined as:-
asbestosis (which is a slowly developing fibrosis of the
lung caused by the inhalation of high concentrations of
asbestos dust and/or long exposure),
lung cancer, or bronchial carcinoma which can result from
occupational exposures to certain substances, including
asbestos fibres (even without co-existing asbestosis) and,
mesothelioma which is a malignant tumour of the pleura or
peritoneum.
The latter is normally a very rare type of cancer (typically
less than 0.04% of all deaths in the general population). A
higher incidence of mesothelioma has nearly always been
related to the inhalation of mineral fibres, and in the
majority of cases to occupational asbestos exposure.
Check out these links below for more information on this
dread disease.
* World
Health Organization report:
http://www.euro.who.int/document/aiq/6_2_asbestos.pdf
* British Goverment Health and Safety Executive:
http://www.hse.gov.uk/asbestos/index.htm
* Asbestos Exposure - National Cancer Institute, USA:
http://cis.nci.nih.gov/fact/3_21.htm
* Public Health Guidance: Asbestos, Queensland Govt.,
Australia:
http://www.health.qld.gov.au/phs/Documents/ehu/2691.pdf
* Lungs Online - Asbestosis:
http://www.lungsonline.com/asbestosis.html |