Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine

Research Article

The characteristics of asbestos-related disease claims made to the Korea Workers’ Compensation and Welfare Service (KCOMWEL) from 2011 to 2015: Yon Soo An, Hyung Doo Kim, Hyeoung Cheol Kim, Kyoung Sook Jeong, Yeon Soon Ahn; Ann Occup Environ Med 2018;30:45. Published online July 11, 2018; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s40557-018-0256-6

Background

This study aimed to enhance understanding of the epidemiologic characteristics of asbestos-related diseases, and to provide information that could inform policy-making aimed at prevention and compensation for occupational asbestos exposure, through analyzing asbestos-related occupational disease claims to Korea Workers’ Compensation and Welfare Service from 2011 to 2015.

Methods

We analyzed 113 workers who filed medical care claims or survivor benefits for asbestos exposure and occupational-related disease from 2011 to 2015. Among these claims, we selected approved workers’ compensation claims relating to malignant mesothelioma and lung cancer, and analyzed the general characteristics, exposure characteristics, pathological characteristics, and occupation and industry distribution.

Results

Malignant mesothelioma and lung cancer occurred predominantly in males at 89.7 and 94%, respectively. The mean age at the time of diagnosis for malignant mesothelioma and lung cancer was 59.5 and 59.7 years, respectively, while the latency period for malignant mesothelioma and lung cancer was 34.1 and 33.1 years, respectively. The companies involving exposed workers were most commonly situated within the Busan-Ulsan-Gyeongnam region. Histology results for lung cancer indicated adenocarcinoma as the most common form, accounting for approximately one half of all claims, followed by squamous cell carcinoma, and small cell lung cancer. The most common occupation type was construction in respect of malignant mesothelioma, and shipbuilding in respect of lung cancer.

Conclusions

Considering the long latency period of asbestos and that the peak period of asbestos use in Korea was throughout the mid-1990s, damage due to asbestos-related diseases is expected to show a continued long-term increase. Few studies providing an epidemiologic analysis of asbestos-related diseases are available; therefore, this study may provide baseline data to assist in predicting and preparing for future harm due to asbestos exposure.

Trial registration

DUIH 2018–02–004-001. Registered 28 Februrary 2018.

Citations

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The Epidemiologic Characteristics of Malignant Mesothelioma Cases in Korea: Findings of the Asbestos Injury Relief System from 2011–2015
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Short Communication

Environmental health centers for asbestos and their health impact surveys and activities: Dong-Mug Kang, Jong-Eun Kim, Yong-Jin Lee, Hyun-Hee Lee, Chang-yeol Lee, Seong-Jae Moon, Min-Sung Kang; Ann Occup Environ Med 2016;28:68. Published online December 1, 2016; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s40557-016-0154-8

Abstract PDF PubReader ePub

In 2009, Korea banned the import, transport, and use of asbestos, and the Asbestos Injury Relief Act (AIRA) was promulgated in 2011. Two environmental health centers for asbestos (EHCA), including Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital (PNUYH) and SoonChunHyang University Cheonan Hospital (SCHUCH), were adapted to find environmental asbestos-related diseases (ARDs) and to support the purposes of AIRA. EHCA conducted a health impact survey (HIS) on persons who resided or reside near asbestos factories or mines. A total of 13,433 persons have taken screening examinations in PNUYH EHCA, and 623 persons (4.6%) have had secondary examinations. Of the 21,014 persons who had screening examinations in SCHUCH EHCA, 2490 persons (11.8%) had secondary examinations. Some of those who tested positive for ARDs through HISs filed applications for the asbestos victims’ medical pocketbook (AVMP). Approximately 116 and 612 persons received AVMPs as a result of PNUYH and SCHUCH examinees, respectively. EHCAs have conducted HISs, public relations, and education for asbestos victims, ordinary citizens, and physicians. As HISs are based on voluntary participation, they does not monitor high-risk groups. Active surveillance focusing on high-risk groups has been blocked by the personal information protection act. Although important work has been performed in finding environmental asbestos victims and increasing public awareness on asbestos, it is necessary to improve the current system and registration.

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Da-An Huh, Yun-Hee Choi, Lita Kim, Kangyeon Park, Jiyoun Lee, Se Hyun Hwang, Kyong Whan Moon, Min-Sung Kang, Yong-Jin Lee
Environmental Health.2024;[Epub] CrossRef
Occupational and Environmental Asbestos Exposure and Survival of Patients with Asbestos-Related Cancer: A Follow-Up Study on Patients with Malignant Mesothelioma and Asbestos-Related Lung Cancer in Korea
Min-Sung Kang, Woo-Ri Chae, Yong-Jin Lee, Kyong Whan Moon
Toxics.2023; 12(1): 20. CrossRef
Disease Latency according to Asbestos Exposure Characteristics among Malignant Mesothelioma and Asbestos-Related Lung Cancer Cases in South Korea
Da-An Huh, Woo-Ri Chae, Yun-Hee Choi, Min-Sung Kang, Yong-Jin Lee, Kyong-Whan Moon
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Occupational and environmental asbestos exposure and the risk of lung cancer in Korea: A case-control study in South Chungcheong Province of Korea
Da-An Huh, Min-Sung Kang, Jiyun Lee, Ji Yoon Choi, Kyong Whan Moon, Yong-Jin Lee, Flavio Manoel Rodrigues Da Silva Júnior
PLOS ONE.2021; 16(4): e0249790. CrossRef
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Hideki Hasunuma, Masayuki Shima
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Relationships of Lower Lung Fibrosis, Pleural Disease, and Lung Mass with Occupational, Household, Neighborhood, and Slate Roof-Dense Area Residential Asbestos Exposure
Dongmug Kang, Yu-Young Kim, Minseung Shin, Min-Su Lee, Hee-Joo Bae, Se-Yeong Kim, Young-Ki Kim
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.2018; 15(8): 1638. CrossRef
Monitoring and Simulating Environmental Asbestos Dispersion from a Textile Factory
Dongmug Kang, Yongsik Hwang, Yeyong Choi, Se-Yeong Kim, Young-Ki Kim
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.2018; 15(7): 1398. CrossRef
Occupational Burden of Asbestos-Related Diseases in Korea, 1998–2013: Asbestosis, Mesothelioma, Lung Cancer, Laryngeal Cancer, and Ovarian Cancer
Dong-Mug Kang, Jong-Eun Kim, Young-Ki Kim, Hyun-Hee Lee, Se-Yeong Kim
Journal of Korean Medical Science.2018;[Epub] CrossRef
The Asbestos Ban in Korea from a Grassroots Perspective: Why Did It Occur?
Yu-Ryong Yoon, Kyeong Kwak, Yeyong Choi, Kanwoo Youn, Jinwook Bahk, Dong-Mug Kang, Domyung Paek
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.2018; 15(2): 198. CrossRef

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Review

Systematic Review of the Effects of Asbestos Exposure on the Risk of Cancer between Children and Adults: Dongmug Kang, Min-Seung Myung, Young-Ki Kim, Jong-Eun Kim; Ann Occup Environ Med 2013;25:10-10. Published online July 8, 2013; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/2052-4374-25-10

Abstract PDF PubReader ePub

Children are considerably more susceptible to enviro006Emental hazards than adults. This study was conducted to investigate whether the first asbestos exposure in childhood increases the risk of asbestos-related cancer including mesothelioma and lung cancer. MEDLINE (PubMed), Embase, and Google Scholar were searched to find relevant studies published up to July 2012. Six studies reported the relationship between age, including age during childhood, at the first asbestos exposure and mesothelioma. Among them, 4 indicated that people exposed to asbestos in childhood have a higher risk of mesothelioma than those exposed in adulthood. Meanwhile, the other 2 studies showed that asbestos exposure later in life increases the risk of mesothelioma. The results of the 2 studies including non-occupational early childhood exposure report conflicting results. There were 3 studies regarding the relationship between age at first asbestos exposure and lung cancer. However, none of them reported an association between age at first asbestos exposure and the risk of lung cancer. All studies have limitations including small numbers of subjects, the validity of the standardized mortality ratio, and different age categories at first asbestos exposure. There are only a few studies on the harmful effects of asbestos in children in the literature. Therefore, the effect of asbestos exposure during childhood remains unclear and requires further study.

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Original Article

Epidemiologic Characteristics Revealed with a Malignant Mesothelioma Surveillance System in Korea: Soon Hee Jung, Hyoung Ryoul Kim, Sang Baek Koh, Suk Joong Yong, Byong Soon Choi, Yeon Soon Ahn, Tae In Park, Myoung Ja Chung, Yun Mee Kim, Ji Sun Song, Yoon Kyong Chung, Joon Pyo Myung; Korean Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine 2006;18(1):46-52. Published online March 31, 2006; DOI: https://doi.org/10.35371/kjoem.2006.18.1.46

Abstract PDF

OBJECTIVES
This study estimated the magnitude of malignant mesothelioma and its epidemiologic features in Korea. We collected data on 160 cases for the 5-year period from 2001 to 2005.
METHODS
We established a surveillance system for malignant mesothelioma in 2001. The important participants were pathologists, and respiratory and occupational physicians. We reclassified these cases according to the date of diagnosis and calculated fatality by comparing National Mortality Data. We actively surveyed 18 cases which were diagnosed in 2004 and 2005 to evaluate their work-relatedness.
RESULTS
Among 160 cases, 18 were initially diagnosed before 1995, 57 from 1996 to 2000, 11 in 2001, 18 in 2002, 11 in 2003, 29 in 2004 and 16 in 2005. After 2001, 17cases were reported annually. Among the 86 cases which were diagnosed before 2003, 60 cases (69.8%) had died and 46(53.5%) had died within 1 year. Among the 18 cases which we surveyed, 5 were related with the construction industry, 2 with asbestos textile manufacturing industries and 1 with asbestos painting. There was no evident work relatedness in the other 10 cases, but 6 were related to environmental exposure.
CONCLUSIONS
Although this surveillance system revealed the magnitude of malignant mesothelioma in Korea, it needs to be supplemented by an active surveillance system using death certificate data and cancer registry data etc.

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Case Report

A Case of Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma Induced by Crocidolite: Jong Rae Roh, Jin Gun Sohn, Hye Ran Song, Jin Ha Kim, Jin Gon Seol; Korean Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine 2005;17(2):149-154. Published online June 30, 2005; DOI: https://doi.org/10.35371/kjoem.2005.17.2.149

Abstract PDF: Asbestos exposure may cause asbestosis, pleural plaques and benign pleural disease, and may give a predisposition to malignant mesothelioma in occupationally exposed workers. This case report describes a 50-year-old man, dying from histologically confirmed, diffuse, malignant mesothelioma after asbestos exposure. As a young man, he had been exposed at the workplace to crocidolite for 2 years, but he had no other known history of occupational or environmental asbestos exposure. The patient presented with chest pain and general weakness. Computed tomography showed bilateral irregular pleural thickening along both lower lateral chest walls and a low attenuating mass in the anterior portion of the left lobe. Pathological examinations revealed that it was an epithelial type with tubulopapillary structures and it tested immunohistochemically positive for antibodies against cytokeratin, calretinin and vimentin. The patient was started on chemotherapy but he died to the disease at ten months after the first onset of the symptoms. Mesothelioma is a rare neoplasm in the general population. Nevertheless, the importance of close medical surveillance of the high-risk population is emphasized, because of increased asbestos exposure.

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