J Korean Med Assoc.  2009 May;52(5):472-481. 10.5124/jkma.2009.52.5.472.

Asbestosis Epidemics Caused by Non-occupational Neighborhood Exposure

• Ahn YS
• Kim HR

• KMID: 2188009
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5124/jkma.2009.52.5.472

Abstract

Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral in the Earth's crust, and it is not confined to the historic and current asbestos mining areas, but rather quite commonly encountered in certain geological environments across the world. The middle-west side of the Korean Peninsula (Chungnam province) has been composed of numerous talc and asbestos ore deposits derived from serpentine and dolomite. These areas have experienced epidemics of malignant mesothelioma and pleural plaques as a result of non-occupational "neighborhood" exposure and naturally occurring asbestos (NOA) exposure. However, asbestosis epidemics from environmental exposure were rare because asbestosis needs relatively high concentration of asbestos exposure. This review summarizes asbestosis epidemics which occurred in the residents who have lived past or current asbestos mining areas and natural in-place asbestos deposits (or asbestos-like mineral deposits) in the world, including Korean asbestosis endemics that occurred in Chungnam province, which has many historic asbestos mining. Also, this manuscript will describe effective public policies for managing NOA, minimizing potential hazards, and protecting public health from asbestos exposure.

Keyword

Asbestosis; Asbestos mining; Neighborhood exposure; Naturally occurring asbestos (NOA)

MeSH Terms

Asbestos
Asbestosis
Calcium Carbonate
Environmental Exposure
Magnesium
Mesothelioma
Mining
Public Health
Public Policy
Residence Characteristics
Talc
Asbestos
Calcium Carbonate
Magnesium
Talc