Abstract
Background: The objectives of this study were to examine trends in mesothelioma incidence over a decade and to identify histories of asbestos exposure among cases in Korea. Methods: In 2001, The Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency organized a nationwide cardiopulmonary pathology group and established a malignant mesothelioma surveillance system covering all general hospitals in Korea. Mesothelioma cases were reported to this surveillance system with information about age, gender, location, occupational history, asbestos exposure environment, date of diagnosis, diagnostic method, histopathologic subtype, occurrence site, and other clinical information. Additionally, an epidemiological survey was conducted using a structured verbal questionnaire to allow further evaluation of asbestos exposures. Results: A total of 399 cases of malignant mesothelioma were reported in the last decade, translating to approximately 40 annual cases, and an annual average incidence rate of 0.83 cases per million. Of the 152 patients interviewed by occupational physicians, 56 had occupational asbestos exposure histories (36.8%). Their occupations and industries included construction (19.7%), automobile repair (5.9%), asbestos textile, shipbuilding and repair, refinery work, boiler making, and asbestos cement work. Another 31 patients had environmental asbestos exposure histories. Conclusions: Surveillance data indicate that malignant mesothelioma incidence in Korea is, thus far, lower than that of other developed countries, and that construction and environmental asbestos exposure were the main identifiable causes of malignant mesothelioma.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 869-875 |
| Number of pages | 7 |
| Journal | American Journal of Industrial Medicine |
| Volume | 55 |
| Issue number | 10 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2012 Oct 1 |
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All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes
- Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
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A decade of malignant mesothelioma surveillance in Korea. / Jung, Soon Hee; Kim, Hyoung Ryoul; Koh, Sang Baek; Yong, Suk Joong; Chung, Myoung Ja; Lee, Chang Hun; Han, Joungho; Eom, Min Seob; Oh, Sung Soo.
In: American Journal of Industrial Medicine, Vol. 55, No. 10, 01.10.2012, p. 869-875.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
TY - JOUR
T1 - A decade of malignant mesothelioma surveillance in Korea
AU - Jung, Soon Hee
AU - Kim, Hyoung Ryoul
AU - Koh, Sang Baek
AU - Yong, Suk Joong
AU - Chung, Myoung Ja
AU - Lee, Chang Hun
AU - Han, Joungho
AU - Eom, Min Seob
AU - Oh, Sung Soo
PY - 2012/10/1
Y1 - 2012/10/1
N2 - Background: The objectives of this study were to examine trends in mesothelioma incidence over a decade and to identify histories of asbestos exposure among cases in Korea. Methods: In 2001, The Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency organized a nationwide cardiopulmonary pathology group and established a malignant mesothelioma surveillance system covering all general hospitals in Korea. Mesothelioma cases were reported to this surveillance system with information about age, gender, location, occupational history, asbestos exposure environment, date of diagnosis, diagnostic method, histopathologic subtype, occurrence site, and other clinical information. Additionally, an epidemiological survey was conducted using a structured verbal questionnaire to allow further evaluation of asbestos exposures. Results: A total of 399 cases of malignant mesothelioma were reported in the last decade, translating to approximately 40 annual cases, and an annual average incidence rate of 0.83 cases per million. Of the 152 patients interviewed by occupational physicians, 56 had occupational asbestos exposure histories (36.8%). Their occupations and industries included construction (19.7%), automobile repair (5.9%), asbestos textile, shipbuilding and repair, refinery work, boiler making, and asbestos cement work. Another 31 patients had environmental asbestos exposure histories. Conclusions: Surveillance data indicate that malignant mesothelioma incidence in Korea is, thus far, lower than that of other developed countries, and that construction and environmental asbestos exposure were the main identifiable causes of malignant mesothelioma.
AB - Background: The objectives of this study were to examine trends in mesothelioma incidence over a decade and to identify histories of asbestos exposure among cases in Korea. Methods: In 2001, The Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency organized a nationwide cardiopulmonary pathology group and established a malignant mesothelioma surveillance system covering all general hospitals in Korea. Mesothelioma cases were reported to this surveillance system with information about age, gender, location, occupational history, asbestos exposure environment, date of diagnosis, diagnostic method, histopathologic subtype, occurrence site, and other clinical information. Additionally, an epidemiological survey was conducted using a structured verbal questionnaire to allow further evaluation of asbestos exposures. Results: A total of 399 cases of malignant mesothelioma were reported in the last decade, translating to approximately 40 annual cases, and an annual average incidence rate of 0.83 cases per million. Of the 152 patients interviewed by occupational physicians, 56 had occupational asbestos exposure histories (36.8%). Their occupations and industries included construction (19.7%), automobile repair (5.9%), asbestos textile, shipbuilding and repair, refinery work, boiler making, and asbestos cement work. Another 31 patients had environmental asbestos exposure histories. Conclusions: Surveillance data indicate that malignant mesothelioma incidence in Korea is, thus far, lower than that of other developed countries, and that construction and environmental asbestos exposure were the main identifiable causes of malignant mesothelioma.
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UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84866173965&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1002/ajim.22065
DO - 10.1002/ajim.22065
M3 - Article
C2 - 22544626
AN - SCOPUS:84866173965
VL - 55
SP - 869
EP - 875
JO - American Journal of Industrial Medicine
JF - American Journal of Industrial Medicine
SN - 0271-3586
IS - 10
ER -