[Health surveillance for subjects with past occupational exposure to asbestos: the experience of Local Health Unit Messina 5 (Sicily)].
OBJECTIVE
In the framework of the World Health Organization (WHO)-Istituto superiore di sanità (ISS) joint research project «Cohort studies in areas of high environmental risk in Sicily», since 2007 a working group ISS-Local Health Unit Messina 5 (AUSL ME5) assessed the issue emerged during the course of a health monitoring program launched in 2003, dedicated to former employees of an asbestos-cement factory, and their relatives (378 subjects, 119 ex employees and 259 relatives).


METHODS
Communication about the health risks linked to previous exposure to asbestos, diagnostic tools for asbestos-related diseases, available preventive measures (stopping smoking tobacco, avoiding further exposure to respiratory irritants, prophylaxis of any intercurrent respiratory diseases) were focused. The working group discussed the whole structure of the activity in progress, and identified the difficulties emerged in previous years.


CONCLUSIONS
The authors developed a health plan that could be useful in similar Sicilian contexts with public health problems due to past activities with asbestos.
Zona
Amerigo
A
Dip. ambiente e connessa prevenzione primaria, ISS, V.le Regina Elena 299, 00161 Roma. amerigo.zona@iss.it
Bruno
Caterina
C
Villari
Caterina
C
Contiguglia
Rosario
R
Fazzo
Lucia
L
Mollica
Gina
G
Puglisi
Giovanni
G
Comba
Pietro
P
D001194:Asbestos / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001195:Asbestosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011159:Population Surveillance; D012802:Sicily / Q000453:epidemiology
D001194:Asbestos