title: Asbestos in Asia.
abstract: Asbestos is a global killer. Despite lessons learned in the developed world on the use of asbestos and its hazardous pulmonary consequences, its use continues to increase in Asia. Although some countries such as Japan, Korea and Singapore have curtailed the use of this mineral, there are numerous countries in Asia that continue to mine, import and use this fibre, particularly China, which is one of the largest consumers in the world. Numerous factors ranging from political and economic to the lack of understanding of asbestos and the management of asbestos-related lung disease are keys to this observed trend. Awareness of these factors combined with early intervention may prevent the predicted Asian 'tsunami' of asbestos diseases.
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine and Pharmacology, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia; National Centre for Asbestos Related Diseases, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: Su Lyn
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Leong
authors.forename: Rizka
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zainudin
authors.forename: Laurie
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kazan-Allen
authors.forename: Bruce W
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: Robinson
mesh_terms: D001194:Asbestos; D001195:Asbestosis; D001208:Asia; D002681:China; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D006801:Humans; D007214:Indonesia; D007221:Industry; D007564:Japan; D008171:Lung Diseases; D008175:Lung Neoplasms; D008654:Mesothelioma; D056910:Republic of Korea; D012846:Singapore
chemical_list: D001194:Asbestos
keywords: Asia; asbestos; asbestosis; mesothelioma