IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v15y2023i11p8492-d1154051.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

The Past, Present and Future of Asbestos-Related Diseases in Australia: What Are the Data Telling Us?

Author

Listed:
  • Kathleen Mahoney

    (Asbestos Safety and Eradication Agency, Surry Hills, NSW 2010, Australia)

  • Tim Driscoll

    (Sydney School of Public Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia)

  • Julia Collins

    (Asbestos Safety and Eradication Agency, Surry Hills, NSW 2010, Australia)

  • Justine Ross

    (Asbestos Safety and Eradication Agency, Surry Hills, NSW 2010, Australia)

Abstract

Exposure to asbestos fibres causes asbestosis, mesothelioma and several other cancers, which together are commonly referred to as asbestos-related diseases (ARDs). The use of asbestos increased rapidly in Australia and overseas throughout the 1900s, but knowledge about the health effects of exposure and subsequent controls came about more gradually. In Australia today, an estimated 4000 people still die annually from ARDs. While most of these deaths are due to past occupational exposures, there is ongoing concern about the many potential sources of asbestos exposure remaining in homes and the broader built environment as a legacy of past use. Current evidence indicates that Australians will continue to be exposed to legacy asbestos occupationally and non-occupationally, and continue to develop ARDs, without targeted action to prevent it. Evidence of ongoing exposure highlights the importance of better understanding how and why such exposures might still occur, and how they can be effectively prevented or controlled, with the aim of preventing the disease in the future. A better characterisation of this risk is also necessary to enable effective risk management and appropriate risk communication that is relevant to the current Australian context. This article explores the past, present and future of ARDs in Australia, considers the risk of a new wave of ARDs from legacy asbestos, and identifies where further study is required so that sustainable policies and practices can be developed to prevent a future wave of diseases.

Suggested Citation

  • Kathleen Mahoney & Tim Driscoll & Julia Collins & Justine Ross, 2023. "The Past, Present and Future of Asbestos-Related Diseases in Australia: What Are the Data Telling Us?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-12, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:11:p:8492-:d:1154051
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/15/11/8492/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/15/11/8492/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Edward A. Emmett, 2021. "Asbestos in High-Risk Communities: Public Health Implications," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(4), pages 1-14, February.
    2. Dongmug Kang & Yongsik Hwang & Yeyong Choi & Se-Yeong Kim & Young-Ki Kim, 2018. "Monitoring and Simulating Environmental Asbestos Dispersion from a Textile Factory," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-9, July.
    3. Benjamin Lysaniuk & María Fernanda Cely-García & Margarita Giraldo & Joan M. Larrahondo & Laura Marcela Serrano-Calderón & Juan Carlos Guerrero-Bernal & Leonardo Briceno-Ayala & Esteban Cruz Rodriguez, 2021. "Using GIS to Estimate Population at Risk Because of Residence Proximity to Asbestos Processing Facilities in Colombia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(24), pages 1-17, December.
    4. Meghan E. Glynn & Kara A. Keeton & Shannon H. Gaffney & Jennifer Sahmel, 2018. "Ambient Asbestos Fiber Concentrations and Long‐Term Trends in Pleural Mesothelioma Incidence between Urban and Rural Areas in the United States (1973–2012)," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 38(3), pages 454-471, March.
    5. Małgorzata Krówczyńska & Ewa Wilk, 2018. "Asbestos Exposure and the Mesothelioma Incidence in Poland," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(8), pages 1-17, August.
    6. Małgorzata Krówczyńska & Ewa Wilk, 2019. "Environmental and Occupational Exposure to Asbestos as a Result of Consumption and Use in Poland," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(14), pages 1-13, July.
    7. Luigi Vimercati & Domenica Cavone & Maria Celeste Delfino & Antonio Caputi & Luigi De Maria & Stefania Sponselli & Vincenzo Corrado & Giovanni Maria Ferri & Gabriella Serio, 2020. "Asbestos Air Pollution: Description of a Mesothelioma Cluster Due to Residential Exposure from an Asbestos Cement Factory," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(8), pages 1-17, April.
    8. Seungho Lee & Dongmug Kang & Youngki Kim & Yoon-Ji Kim & Se-Yeong Kim, 2021. "Activity-Based Exposure Levels and Cancer Risk Assessment Due to Naturally Occurring Asbestos for the Residents Near Abandoned Asbestos Mines in South Korea," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(10), pages 1-12, May.
    9. Dongmug Kang & Yu-Young Kim & Minseung Shin & Min-Su Lee & Hee-Joo Bae & Se-Yeong Kim & Young-Ki Kim, 2018. "Relationships of Lower Lung Fibrosis, Pleural Disease, and Lung Mass with Occupational, Household, Neighborhood, and Slate Roof-Dense Area Residential Asbestos Exposure," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(8), pages 1-10, August.
    10. Sofie Bünemann Dalsgaard & Else Toft Würtz & Johnni Hansen & Oluf Dimitri Røe & Øyvind Omland, 2021. "Cancer Incidence and Risk of Multiple Cancers after Environmental Asbestos Exposure in Childhood—A Long-Term Register-Based Cohort Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(1), pages 1-11, December.
    11. Kyeongmin Kwak & Kyung Ehi Zoh & Domyung Paek, 2021. "Incidence of Cancer and Asbestos-Related Diseases among Residents Living near Abandoned Asbestos Mines in South Korea: A Retrospective Cohort Study Using National Health Insurance Database," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(3), pages 1-15, January.
    12. Belinda Brown & Ian Hollins & Joe Pickin & Sally Donovan, 2023. "Asbestos Stocks and Flows Legacy in Australia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-9, January.
    13. Douglas, Thomas & Van den Borre, Laura, 2019. "Asbestos neglect: Why asbestos exposure deserves greater policy attention," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 123(5), pages 516-519.
    14. Eun-Soo Lee & Young-Ki Kim, 2021. "Asbestos Exposure Level and the Carcinogenic Risk Due to Corrugated Asbestos-Cement Slate Roofs in Korea," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(13), pages 1-12, June.
    15. Sofie Bünemann Dalsgaard & Else Toft Würtz & Johnni Hansen & Oluf Dimitri Røe & Øyvind Omland, 2022. "A Cohort Study on Cancer Incidence among Women Exposed to Environmental Asbestos in Childhood with a Focus on Female Cancers, including Breast Cancer," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(4), pages 1-11, February.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Georgia Frangioudakis Khatib & Julia Collins & Pierina Otness & James Goode & Stacey Tomley & Peter Franklin & Justine Ross, 2023. "Australia’s Ongoing Challenge of Legacy Asbestos in the Built Environment: A Review of Contemporary Asbestos Exposure Risks," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(15), pages 1-23, August.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Lucia Fazzo & Giada Minelli & Marco De Santis & Emiliano Ceccarelli & Ivano Iavarone & Amerigo Zona, 2023. "The Epidemiological Surveillance of Mesothelioma Mortality in Italy as a Tool for the Prevention of Asbestos Exposure," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(11), pages 1-16, May.
    2. Eun-A Kim, 2021. "Standardized Incidence Ratio and Standardized Mortality Ratio of Malignant Mesothelioma in a Worker Cohort Using Employment Insurance Database in Korea," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(20), pages 1-13, October.
    3. Terri-Ann Berry & Elena Belluso & Ruggero Vigliaturo & Reto Gieré & Edward A. Emmett & Joseph R. Testa & Gregor Steinhorn & Shannon L. Wallis, 2022. "Asbestos and Other Hazardous Fibrous Minerals: Potential Exposure Pathways and Associated Health Risks," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(7), pages 1-17, March.
    4. Benjamin Lysaniuk & María Fernanda Cely-García & Margarita Giraldo & Joan M. Larrahondo & Laura Marcela Serrano-Calderón & Juan Carlos Guerrero-Bernal & Leonardo Briceno-Ayala & Esteban Cruz Rodriguez, 2021. "Using GIS to Estimate Population at Risk Because of Residence Proximity to Asbestos Processing Facilities in Colombia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(24), pages 1-17, December.
    5. Seungho Lee & Dongmug Kang & Youngki Kim & Yoon-Ji Kim & Se-Yeong Kim, 2021. "Activity-Based Exposure Levels and Cancer Risk Assessment Due to Naturally Occurring Asbestos for the Residents Near Abandoned Asbestos Mines in South Korea," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(10), pages 1-12, May.
    6. Beata Świątkowska & Wojciech Hanke, 2020. "Comment on Małgorzata Krówczyńska and Ewa Wilk. Environmental and Occupational Exposure to Asbestos as a Result of Consumption and Use in Poland. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2019, 16 , 2611," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(5), pages 1-2, March.
    7. Małgorzata Krówczyńska & Ewa Wilk, 2020. "Reply to Comment on Małgorzata Krówczyńska and Ewa Wilk. Environmental and Occupational Exposure to Asbestos as a Result of Consumption and Use in Poland. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2019, 16,," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(6), pages 1-2, March.
    8. Edward A. Emmett, 2021. "Asbestos in High-Risk Communities: Public Health Implications," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(4), pages 1-14, February.
    9. Dongmug Kang & Seung Ho Lee & Yoon Ji Kim & Tae Kyoung Kim & Ju Young Kim & Youngki Kim, 2021. "Development of Nationwide Excess Lifetime Cancer Risk Evaluation Methods with Comprehensive Past Asbestos Exposure Reconstruction," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(6), pages 1-20, March.
    10. Georgia Frangioudakis Khatib & Julia Collins & Pierina Otness & James Goode & Stacey Tomley & Peter Franklin & Justine Ross, 2023. "Australia’s Ongoing Challenge of Legacy Asbestos in the Built Environment: A Review of Contemporary Asbestos Exposure Risks," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(15), pages 1-23, August.
    11. Gordana Kaplan & Mateo Gašparović & Onur Kaplan & Vancho Adjiski & Resul Comert & Mohammad Asef Mobariz, 2023. "Machine Learning-Based Classification of Asbestos-Containing Roofs Using Airborne RGB and Thermal Imagery," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-16, March.
    12. Amanda M. Burns & Christy A. Barlow & Amber M. Banducci & Kenneth M. Unice & Jennifer Sahmel, 2019. "Potential Airborne Asbestos Exposure and Risk Associated with the Historical Use of Cosmetic Talcum Powder Products," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 39(10), pages 2272-2294, October.
    13. Kapo Wong & Alan Hoi Shou Chan, 2018. "Emerging Issues in Occupational Safety and Health," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(12), pages 1-4, December.
    14. Małgorzata Krówczyńska & Ewa Wilk, 2019. "Environmental and Occupational Exposure to Asbestos as a Result of Consumption and Use in Poland," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(14), pages 1-13, July.
    15. Murray Martin Finkelstein, 2018. "Letter Concerning: Glynn ME, Keeton KA, Gaffney SH, Sahmel J. Ambient Asbestos Fiber Concentrations and Long‐Term Trends in Pleural Mesothelioma Incidence Between Urban and Rural Areas in the United S," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 38(8), pages 1521-1523, August.
    16. Eun-Soo Lee & Young-Ki Kim, 2021. "Asbestos Exposure Level and the Carcinogenic Risk Due to Corrugated Asbestos-Cement Slate Roofs in Korea," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(13), pages 1-12, June.
    17. Katrina Khamhing & Shane McArdle & Justine Ross, 2023. "Awareness and Profiling of High-Risk Asbestos Exposure Groups in Australia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-11, March.
    18. Chunhui Chen & Zesen Peng & JiaYu Gu & Yaxiong Peng & Xiaoyang Huang & Li Wu, 2020. "Exploring Environmentally Friendly Biopolymer Material Effect on Soil Tensile and Compressive Behavior," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(23), pages 1-13, December.
    19. Mia V. Hikuwai & Nicholas Patorniti & Abel S. Vieira & Georgia Frangioudakis Khatib & Rodney A. Stewart, 2023. "Artificial Intelligence for the Detection of Asbestos Cement Roofing: An Investigation of Multi-Spectral Satellite Imagery and High-Resolution Aerial Imagery," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(5), pages 1-23, February.
    20. Kwang Min Lee & Lode Godderis & Sugio Furuya & Yoon Ji Kim & Dongmug Kang, 2021. "Comparison of Asbestos Victim Relief Available Outside of Conventional Occupational Compensation Schemes," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(10), pages 1-21, May.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:11:p:8492-:d:1154051. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.