Occupational lung diseases in Australia

Abstract

Occupational exposures are an important determinant of respiratory health. International estimates note that about 15% of adult-onset asthma, 15% of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and 10-30% of lung cancer may be attributable to hazardous occupational exposures. One-quarter of working asthmatics either have had their asthma caused by work or adversely affected by workplace conditions. Recently, cases of historical occupational lung diseases have been noted to occur with new exposures, such as cases of silicosis in workers fabricating kitchen benchtops from artificial stone products. Identification of an occupational cause of a lung disease can be difficult and requires maintaining a high index of suspicion. When an occupational lung disease is identified, this may facilitate a cure and help to protect coworkers. Currently, very little information is collected regarding actual cases of occupational lung diseases in Australia. Most assumptions about many occupational lung diseases are based on extrapolation from overseas data. This lack of information is a major impediment to development of targeted interventions and timely identification of new hazardous exposures. All employers, governments and health care providers in Australia have a responsibility to ensure that the highest possible standards are in place to protect workers' respiratory health.

Trends in global, regional and national incidence of pneumoconiosis caused by different aetiologies: an analysis from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017

“…Asbestosis was found to have had higher numbers of cases and ASIRs in high SDI regions, including Australasia (mainly Australia) and high-income North America. Mining, processing and transportation of raw asbestos are high-risk occupations for asbestosis 22–24. Moreover, economic issues surrounding asbestos and the financial implications from growing worldwide legal implications have largely affected changes in the incidence of asbestosis 23–26.…”

Carcinógenos ambientales asociados a cáncer infantil

“…La Sociedad Americana contra el cáncer declararon que el asbesto es un carcinogénico humano (41) . En España, el principal agente desencadenante de cáncer pulmonar es el asbesto, determinándose que el tiempo de latencia entre la exposición del agente y la detección clínica de la enfermedad es cerca de 40 años; aunque, en la mayoría de las enfermedades carcinogénicas el intervalo es alrededor de 12 a 15 años (42)(43)(44) .…”

Lung health in a changing world

“…Asbestos in the built environment will become an even greater hazard, both for workers and home renovators, as industrial, commercial and residential properties reach the end of their serviceable lives, 11 and perhaps also as the fear of asbestos exposure begins to fade in the assumption that it is a problem of the past. Two helpful reviews in this issue of the MJA discuss further the current status of occupational lung disease and mesothelioma in Australia 12 , 13 …”

“…Two helpful reviews in this issue of the MJA discuss further the current status of occupational lung disease and mesothelioma in Australia. 12,13 Antimicrobial resistance…”