Have a personal or library account? Click to login
Challenges in Identifying and Diagnosing Asbestos-Related Diseases in Emerging Economies: A Global Health Perspective Cover

Challenges in Identifying and Diagnosing Asbestos-Related Diseases in Emerging Economies: A Global Health Perspective

Annals of Global Health
Volume 91 (2025): Issue 1
By: Priyanka Roy,  Ankita Raheja,  Khushi Prajapati,  Shubhajeet Roy,  Mainak Bardhan and  Arthur L. Frank  
Open Access
|Sep 2025

References

  1. Frank AL, Joshi TK. The global spread of asbestos. Ann Glob Health. 2014;80(4):257–262. doi:10.1016/j.aogh.2014.09.016.
    Back to article
  2. International Agency for Research on Cancer. Asbestos Chrysotile, Amosite, Crocidolite, Tremolite, Actinolite, and Anthophyllite. IARC Monographs on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans; 2012.
    Back to article
  3. Mossman BT. Assessment of the pathogenic potential of asbestiform vs. nonasbestiform particulates (cleavage fragments) in vitro (cell or organ culture) models and bioassays. Regul Toxicol Pharmacol. 2008;52(Suppl):S200–S203. doi:10.1016/j.yrtph.2007.10.004.
    Back to article
  4. The Lancet. Asbestos‑related disease—a preventable burden. Lancet. 2008;372(9654):1927. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(08)61821-8.
    Back to article
  5. Sokolove Law. Anniversary of U.S. Asbestos Ban: 35 Years Later, Americans Still Lack Protections. Accessed July 11, 2025. https://www.sokolovelaw.com/blog/1989-usa-asbestos-ban-lifted-1991/.
    Back to article
  6. Wickramatillake BA, Fernando MA, Frank AL. Prevalence of asbestos‑related disease among workers in Sri Lanka. Ann Glob Health. 2019;85(1):108. doi:10.5334/aogh.2575.
    Back to article
  7. International Ban Asbestos Secretariat. Asbestos Profile: India. Accessed August 20, 2025. https://ibasecretariat.org/prof_india.php.
    Back to article
  8. International Labour Organization. Convention C162 ‑ Asbestos Convention, 1986 (No. 162). Accessed February 15, 2025. https://normlex.ilo.org/dyn/nrmlx_en/f?p=NORMLEXPUB:12100:0::NO::P12100_INSTRUMENT_ID:312307.
    Back to article
  9. Basel Convention. The Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their. Accessed February 15, 2025. https://www.basel.int/theconvention/overview/tabid/1271/default.aspx.
    Back to article
  10. Lin RT, Chien LC, Jimba M, Furuya S, Takahashi K. Implementation of national policies for a total asbestos ban: A global comparison. Lancet Planet Health. 2019;3(8):e341–e348. doi:10.1016/S2542-5196(19)30109-3.
    Back to article
  11. Schlünssen V, Mandrioli D, Pega F, et al. The prevalences and levels of occupational exposure to dusts and/or fibres (silica, asbestos and coal): A systematic review and meta‑analysis from the WHO/ILO joint estimates of the work‑related Burden of disease and injury. Environ Int. 2023;178:107980. doi:10.1016/J.ENVINT.2023.107980.
    Back to article
  12. Li N, Zhai Z, Zheng Y, et al. Association of 13 occupational carcinogens in patients with cancer, individually and collectively, 1990–2017. JAMA Netw Open. 2021;4(2):e2037530. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.37530.
    Back to article
  13. LaDou J, Castleman B, Frank A, et al. The case for a global ban on asbestos. Environ Health Perspect. 2010;118(7):897–901. doi:10.1289/ehp.1002285.
    Back to article
  14. American Thoracic Society. Diagnosis and initial management of nonmalignant diseases related to asbestos. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2004;170(6):691–715. doi:10.1164/rccm.200310-1436ST.
    Back to article
  15. World Health Organization. Chemical Safety and Health. 2024. Accessed February 15, 2025. https://www.who.int/teams/environment-climate-change-and-health/chemical-safety-and-health/health-impacts/chemicals/asbestos.
    Back to article
  16. Odgerel C, Takahashi K, Sorahan T, et al. Estimation of the global burden of mesothelioma deaths from incomplete national mortality data. Occup Environ Med. 2017;74(12):851–858. doi:10.1136/oemed-2017-104298.
    Back to article
  17. Singh R, Frank AL. Analysis of the Indian government’s position on the use of asbestos and its health effects. Public Health Action. 2023;13(2):50–52. doi:10.5588/pha.23.0013.
    Back to article
  18. Ameille J, Brochard P, Brechot JM, et al. Pleural thickening: A comparison of oblique chest radiographs and high‑resolution computed tomography in subjects exposed to low levels of asbestos pollution. Int Arch Occup Environ Health. 1993;64(8):545–548. doi:10.1007/BF00517698.
    Back to article
  19. Nishikawa K, Takahashi K, Karjalainen A, et al. Recent mortality from pleural mesothelioma, historical patterns of asbestos use, and adoption of bans: A global assessment. Environ Health Perspect. 2008;116(12):1675–1680. doi:10.1289/ehp.11272.
    Back to article
  20. World Health Organization. WHO Global Plan of Action on Workers’ Health (2008‑2017): Baseline for implementation: Global country survey 2008/2009: Executive summary and survey findings. 2013. Accessed Aug 20, 2025. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/WHO-FWC-PHE-2013-01.
    Back to article
  21. Singh R, Frank AL. Notification and recordkeeping of occupational mesothelioma in India. MedRxiv. February 14, 2025. doi:10.1101/2025.02.11.25322115.
    Back to article
  22. Mathieson JR, Mayo JR, Staples CA, Müller NL. Chronic diffuse infiltrative lung disease: Comparison of diagnostic accuracy of CT and chest radiography. Radiology. 1989;171(1):111–116. doi:10.1148/radiology.171.1.2928513.
    Back to article
  23. Manners D, Wong P, Murray C, et al. Correlation of ultra‑low dose chest CT findings with physiologic measures of asbestosis. Eur Radiol. 2017;27(8):3485–3490. doi:10.1007/s00330-016-4722-7.
    Back to article
  24. Lee YCG, Singh B, Pang SC, de Klerk NH, Hillman DR, Musk AW. Radiographic (ILO) readings predict arterial oxygen desaturation during exercise in subjects with asbestosis. Occup Environ Med. 2003;60(3):201–206. doi:10.1136/oem.60.3.201.
    Back to article
  25. Ohar J, Sterling DA, Bleecker E, Donohue J. Changing patterns in asbestos‑induced lung disease. Chest. 2004;125(2):744–753. doi:10.1378/chest.125.2.744.
    Back to article
  26. Miller A. Pulmonary function in asbestosis and asbestos‑related pleural disease. Environ Res. 1993;61(1):1–18. doi:10.1006/enrs.1993.1044.
    Back to article
  27. Baur X. Asbestos‑related disorders in Germany: Background, politics, incidence, diagnostics and compensation. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2018;15(1):143. doi:10.3390/ijerph15010143.
    Back to article
  28. Lerman Y, Seidman H, Gelb S, Miller A, Selikoff IJ. Spirometric abnormalities among asbestos insulation workers. J Occup Med. 1998;30(3):228–233.
    Back to article
  29. Brodkin CA, Barnhart S, Anderson G, Checkoway H, Omenn GS, Rosenstock L. Correlation between respiratory symptoms and pulmonary function in asbestos‑exposed workers. Am Rev Respir Dis. 1993;148:32–37. doi:10.1164/ajrccm/148.1.32.
    Back to article
  30. Wright GW. Functional abnormalities of industrial pulmonary fibrosis. AMA Arch Ind Health. 1955;11:196–203.
    Back to article
  31. Selikoff IJ, Churg J, Hammond EC. Asbestos exposure and neoplasia. JAMA. 1964;188(1):22–26. doi:10.1001/jama.1964.03060270028006.
    Back to article
  32. Bader ME, Bader RA, Selikoff IJ. Pulmonary function in asbestosis of the lung. Am J Med. 1961;30:235–242. doi:10.1016/0002-9343(61)90095-X.
    Back to article
  33. International Labour Organization. 2022 Revised edition of the ILO international classification of radiographs of Pneumoconioses. 2023. Accessed August 21, 2025. https://www.ilo.org/resource/news/2022-revised-edition-ilo-international-classification-radiographs.
    Back to article
  34. Roberts HC. Screening for malignant pleural mesothelioma and lung cancer in individuals with a history of asbestos exposure. J Thorac Oncol. 2009;4(5):620–628. doi:10.1097/JTO.0b013e31819f2e0e.
    Back to article
  35. Reid A, Alfonso H, Ti JSS, Wong E, de Klerk N, Musk AW. Sense of control and wellbeing decades after exposure to blue asbestos at wittenoom, Western Australia. Int J Occup Environ Health. 2012;18:116–123. doi:10.1179/1077352512Z.0000000006.
    Back to article
  36. Musk AW, Kler KH, Ambrosini GL, et al. Vitamin A and cancer prevention I: Observations in workers previously exposed to asbestos at Wittenoom, Western Australia. Int J Cancer. 1998;75:355–361. doi:10.1002/(sici)1097-0215(19980130)75:3<;355::aid-ijc5>3.0.co;2-1.
    Back to article
  37. Henderson DW, Jones ML, Klerk ND, et al. The diagnosis and attribution of asbestos‑related diseases in an Australian context: Report of the adelaide workshop on asbestos‑related diseases. October 6–7, 2000. Int J Occup Environ Health. 2004;10:40–46. doi:10.1179/oeh.2004.10.1.40.
    Back to article
  38. Schuhmann M, Brims F, O’Reilly KMA. Asbestos‑related lung disease an update. Clin Pulm Med. 2011;18:265–273. doi:10.1097/CPM.0b013e318235181f.
    Back to article
  39. Whitaker D. The cytology of malignant mesothelioma. Cytopathology. 2000;11:139–151. doi:10.1046/j.1365-2303.2000.00247.x.
    Back to article
  40. Walker‑Bone K, Hollick R. Health and work: What physicians need to know. Clin Med (Lond). 2021;21:195–200. doi:10.7861/clinmed.2020-0847.
    Back to article
  41. Alex R, Francis M, Prashanth HR, Kundavaram A. Occupational history: A neglected component of history taking. Indian J Occup Environ Med. 2013;17:29–30. doi:10.4103/0019-5278.116371.
    Back to article
  42. Supernova Rotecting Your World. Can Lung Cancer Caused by Asbestos Exposure be Misdiagnosed or Mistaken for Other Types of Lung Cancer? – Understanding the Risk and Implications. 2023. Accessed August 21, 2025. https://asbestos-surveys.org.uk/asbestos/the-link-between-asbestos-and-lung-cancer/can-lung-cancer-caused-by-asbestos-exposure-be-misdiagnosed-or-mistaken-for-other-types-of-lung-cancer/.
    Back to article
  43. Roy p, Bardhan M, Roy S, Singh U, Suresh T, Anand A. Silico‑tuberculosis amidst COVID‑19 pandemic: Global scenario and Indian perspective. Ann Med Surg (Lond). 2023;84:6083–6090. doi:10.1097/MS9.0000000000001471.
    Back to article
  44. Lee G, Jeong YJ, Kim KI, et al. Comparison of chest digital tomosynthesis and chest radiography for detection of asbestos‑related pleuropulmonary disease. Clin Radiol. 2013;68(4):376–382. doi:10.1016/j.crad.2012.05.022.
    Back to article
  45. Lamote K, Brinkman P, Vandermeersch L, et al. Breath analysis by gas chromatography‑mass spectrometry and electronic nose to screen for pleural mesothelioma: A cross‑sectional case‑control study. Oncotarget. 2017;8(53):91593–91602. doi:10.18632/oncotarget.21335.
    Back to article
  46. Smallwood N, Dachsel M. Point‑of‑care ultrasound (POCUS): Unnecessary gadgetry or evidence‑based medicine? Clin Med (Lond). 2018;18:219–224. doi:10.7861/clinmedicine.18-3-219.
    Back to article
  47. Smargiassi A, Pasciuto G, Pedicelli I, et al. Chest ultrasonography in health surveillance of asbestos‑related lung diseases. Toxicol Ind Health. 2017;33:537–546. doi:10.1177/0748233716686916.
    Back to article
  48. Shah S, Umulisa I, Noble VE, et al. Development of an ultrasound training curriculum in a limited resource international setting: Successes and challenges of ultrasound training in rural Rwanda. Int J Emerg Med. 2008;1:193–196. doi:10.1007/s12245-008-0053-z.
    Back to article
  49. Brusselmans L, Arnouts L, Millevert C, Vandersnickt J, van Meerbeeck JP, Lamote K. Breath analysis as a diagnostic and screening tool for malignant pleural mesothelioma: A systematic review. Transl Lung Cancer Res. 2018;7:520–536. doi:10.21037/tlcr.2018.04.09.
    Back to article
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5334/aogh.4871 | Journal eISSN: 2214-9996
Journal RSS Feed
Language: English
Submitted on: Jul 10, 2025
Accepted on: Aug 24, 2025
Published on: Sep 18, 2025
Published by: Ubiquity Press
In partnership with: Paradigm Publishing Services
Publication frequency: 1 issue per year
Keywords:
asbestos,
asbestosis,
mesothelioma,
diagnosis,
developing countries,
occupational health,
imaging,
global burden

© 2025 Priyanka Roy, Ankita Raheja, Khushi Prajapati, Shubhajeet Roy, Mainak Bardhan, Arthur L. Frank, published by Ubiquity Press
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Previous articleVolume 91 (2025): Issue 1Next article