title: Environmental health centers for asbestos and their health impact surveys and activities.
abstract: In 2009, Korea banned the import, transport, and use of asbestos, and the Asbestos Injury Relief Act (AIRA) was promulgated in 2011. Two environmental health centers for asbestos (EHCA), including Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital (PNUYH) and SoonChunHyang University Cheonan Hospital (SCHUCH), were adapted to find environmental asbestos-related diseases (ARDs) and to support the purposes of AIRA. EHCA conducted a health impact survey (HIS) on persons who resided or reside near asbestos factories or mines. A total of 13,433 persons have taken screening examinations in PNUYH EHCA, and 623 persons (4.6%) have had secondary examinations. Of the 21,014 persons who had screening examinations in SCHUCH EHCA, 2490 persons (11.8%) had secondary examinations. Some of those who tested positive for ARDs through HISs filed applications for the asbestos victims' medical pocketbook (AVMP). Approximately 116 and 612 persons received AVMPs as a result of PNUYH and SCHUCH examinees, respectively. EHCAs have conducted HISs, public relations, and education for asbestos victims, ordinary citizens, and physicians. As HISs are based on voluntary participation, they does not monitor high-risk groups. Active surveillance focusing on high-risk groups has been blocked by the personal information protection act. Although important work has been performed in finding environmental asbestos victims and increasing public awareness on asbestos, it is necessary to improve the current system and registration.
authors.affiliation: Environmental Health Center for Asbestos, Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital, Geumo-ro 20, Mulgeum-eup, Yangsan-si, Gyeongsangnam-do 50612 South Korea ; Preventive and Occupational Medicine, School of Medicine, Pusan National University, Yangsan, 50612 South Korea ; Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital, 1st floor, 20, Geumo-ro, Mulgeum-eup, Yangsan-si, Gyeongsangnam-do 50612 South Korea.
authors.forename: Dong-Mug
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.affiliation: Environmental Health Center for Asbestos, Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital, Geumo-ro 20, Mulgeum-eup, Yangsan-si, Gyeongsangnam-do 50612 South Korea ; Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital, 1st floor, 20, Geumo-ro, Mulgeum-eup, Yangsan-si, Gyeongsangnam-do 50612 South Korea.
authors.forename: Jong-Eun
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: SoonChunhyang University Hospital Cheonan Asbestos Environmental Health Center, 31, Soonchunhyang 6-gil, Dongnam-gu, Cheonan-si, Chungcheongnam-do South Korea.
authors.forename: Yong-Jin
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Environmental Health Center for Asbestos, Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital, Geumo-ro 20, Mulgeum-eup, Yangsan-si, Gyeongsangnam-do 50612 South Korea.
authors.forename: Hyun-Hee
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Environmental Health Center for Asbestos, Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital, Geumo-ro 20, Mulgeum-eup, Yangsan-si, Gyeongsangnam-do 50612 South Korea.
authors.forename: Chang-Yeol
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Environmental Health Center for Asbestos, Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital, Geumo-ro 20, Mulgeum-eup, Yangsan-si, Gyeongsangnam-do 50612 South Korea.
authors.forename: Seong-Jae
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Moon
authors.affiliation: SoonChunhyang University Hospital Cheonan Asbestos Environmental Health Center, 31, Soonchunhyang 6-gil, Dongnam-gu, Cheonan-si, Chungcheongnam-do South Korea ; Department of Public Health, College of Health Science, Korea University, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Min-Sung
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Kang
keywords: Act; Asbestos; Awareness; Compensation; Environmental; Impact; Lung cancer; Mesothelioma; Relief