Asbestos-related health risks in Estonia.
Asbestos has been declared a proven human carcinogen by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and by the International Agency for Research on Cancer of the World Health Organization. Since 1983, the European Union has enforced health protection directions in this field, which have been the basis for legal acts of Member States. The Estonian Republic is a country where asbestos and asbestos-containing materials have been used in quite large quantities, especially during the Soviet period. Today the use and sale of asbestos minerals and asbestos containing products are prohibited in Estonia. Unfortunately there has been no substantial overview of the health status of workers exposed to asbestos. The objective of this study was to evaluate the extent of health risks of workers exposed to asbestos in Estonia.
Kangur
Maie
M
Estonian Institute of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Tallinn, Estonia. maie.kangur@ekmi.ee
Krooni
Paul
P
D000328:Adult; D001194:Asbestos / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002273:Carcinogens; D003132:Commerce / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D003252:Construction Materials / Q000009:adverse effects; D004957:Estonia / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017132:Workplace
D002273:Carcinogens; D001194:Asbestos