title: Asbestos-related disease in Bangladeshi ship breakers: a pilot study.
abstract: A pilot study tested the feasibility of conducting occupational health research in Bangladesh while examining prevalence of asbestos-related diseases including asbestosis, work-related respiratory symptoms, and attitudes to occupational health and safety among a group of internal migrant ship breakers. Data was collected on clinical and work history, respiratory symptoms, and occupational health and safety practices in Bengali. A B-reader read all postero-anterior chest x-rays. In the 104 male ship breakers studied, prevalence of asbestos-related disease was 12%, of which asbestosis accounted for 6%. Knowledge of asbestos and occupational health and safety measures were almost nonexistent. The prevalence of asbestos-related diseases is low compared to studies in shipbuilders and repairers, but a risk underestimate could have resulted from challenges identified during study design and implementation including: industry noncooperation and a culture of corruption; technological and language barriers; and a regional lack of physician knowledge and research on occupational diseases.
authors: School of Environmental Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada. midori@cuhk.edu.hk
authors: Midori N
authors: MN
authors: Courtice
authors: Paul A
authors: PA
authors: Demers
authors: Tim K
authors: TK
authors: Takaro
authors: Sverre
authors: S
authors: Vedal
authors: S K Ahktar
authors: SK
authors: Ahmad
authors: Hugh W
authors: HW
authors: Davies
authors: Zakia
authors: Z
authors: Siddique