Asbestos-Related Disorders in Germany: Background, Politics, Incidence, Diagnostics and Compensation

Baur, Xaver

doi:10.3390/ijerph15010143

Cited by 20 publications

(18 citation statements)

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“…Factors contributing to Germany's ban include the distribution of scientific knowledge on the harm of asbestos by independent researchers and the highlighting of feasible and effective preventative measures by scientists and unions. 27 These actions forced policymakers to initiate asbestos-related regulations. 25 Previous work has also reported on the role of scientific research focusing on preventive measures in these countries.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Implementation of national policies for a total asbestos ban: a global comparison

Lin

Chien

Jimba

et al. 2019

The Lancet Planetary Health

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Background Two international Conventions from the International Labor Organization (ILO; C162 Asbestos Convention) and the UN (Basel Convention) offer governments guidelines for achieving a total asbestos ban policy, but the long-term effect of these Conventions on policy implementation, and the role of government effectiveness, remains unknown. We aimed to investigate associations between government ratification of the ILO and UN international Conventions, government effectiveness, and implementation of a national total asbestos ban. Methods We obtained data for year of a national asbestos ban, year of ratification of one or both international Conventions, and World Bank government effectiveness scores for 108 countries that ever used asbestos. We did a survival analysis for countries with data in the follow-up period (March 22, 1989, to Feb 2, 2018) to assess whether ratification of the international Conventions and greater government effectiveness were associated with time of implementation of a national total asbestos ban. Findings Of 108 countries with data for asbestos consumption, nine were excluded because they implemented an asbestos ban before 1989. Therefore, 99 countries were included in the survival analysis. 26 countries ratified both international Conventions and 73 ratified either one or no Convention. Countries that ratified both Conventions had a shorter time to adoption of a total asbestos ban (mean 8•9 [SD 6•4] years) than did countries that ratified one or no Conventions (16•9 [6•1] years). After controlling for government effectiveness, countries that ratified both Conventions had a significantly higher conditional probability of banning asbestos than did those ratifying one or no Convention (hazard ratio [HR] 41•8, 95% CI 4•5-383•3; p=0•0010). For every 1 point increment in government effectiveness, the percentage change in HR for persistent asbestos consumption significantly increased by 127% (95% CI 13-354; p=0•021). Interpretation This study confirms that adoption of both the C162 Asbestos Convention and the Basel Convention facilitates countries in moving towards a total asbestos ban. The effect was reinforced by government effectiveness. Both international programmes and new agreements towards total asbestos bans and government commitments are needed.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…25 Previous work has also reported on the role of scientific research focusing on preventive measures in these countries. 27,28 Data for factors related to not banning asbestos are scarce. For some countries, industrial interest seems to outweigh the public health interest.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Implementation of national policies for a total asbestos ban: a global comparison

Lin

Chien

Jimba

et al. 2019

The Lancet Planetary Health

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“…Britain, followed by Germany, Italy and France. There is numerous literature references on the incidence of asbestos in workers (Alies-Patin & Valleron, 1985;Gardner et al, 1986;Peto et al, 1995Peto et al, , 1999Magnani et al, 2001;Hodgson et al, 2005;Marinaccio et al, 2005;Musti et al, 2009;Hindry, 2012;Schonfeld et al, 2014;Corfiati et al, 2015;Baur, 2018;HSE, 2019). Great Britain has a long experience of monitoring of MM, which goes back to 1968 (Peto et al, 1995).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Malignant mesothelioma and asbestos exposure in Europe: Evidence of spatial clustering

Wilk

Krówczyńska²

2021

Geospat Health

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Exposure to asbestos causes a wide range of diseases, such as asbestosis, malignant mesothelioma (MM) and other types of cancer. Many European countries have reduced production and use of asbestos and some have banned it altogether. Based on data derived from the World Health Organisation (WHO) Cancer Mortality Database, we investigated whether some regions in Europe could have a higher relative risk of MM incidence than others. The data were compared, including the number of MM deaths per million inhabitants and aged-standardized mortality rates. Applying Moran’s I and Getis-Ord Gi statistic on the agedstandardized mortality rates of MM cases assisted the spatial analysis of the occurrence of health events leading to an assessment of the heterogeneity of distribution and cluster detection of MM. We found a statistically significant positive autocorrelation for the male population and also the general population, while there was no statistically significant positive one for the female population. Hotspots of relative risk of developing MM were found in northwestern Europe. For the general population, Great Britain and the Netherlands stood out with high levels at the 99% and 95% confidence levels, respectively. For the male population, the results were similar, but with addition of risk also in Belgium and Switzerland. However, in many European countries with high asbestos use per capita, the MM incidence was found to still be low. The reasons for this are not yet clear, but part of the problem is certainly due to incomplete data in registers and databases. The latency time can be longer than 40 years and is related to the intensity and time of exposure (occupational, para-occupational and environmental). In Europe, even though peak production occurred in the 1960s and 1970s, a significant decrease in production did not occur until 25 years later, which means that the impact will continue for as late as The mid 2030s.

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“…In Poland, during the period of 1999–2014, almost 10-times fewer cases were recorded, in total 3348. For comparison in Germany, the number of reported MM cases was 944 in 2013, 881 in 2014 and 976 in 2016 [64]. This is about three-times more diagnosed MM cases per year in Germany when compared to Poland.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Environmental and Occupational Exposure to Asbestos as a Result of Consumption and Use in Poland

Krówczyńska

Wilk

2019

IJERPH

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Asbestos is harmful to human health; exposure to asbestos causes a wide range of asbestos-related diseases. Aim: Malignant mesothelioma (MM) is unique to occupational and environmental asbestos exposure. Methods: Environmental asbestos exposure was examined in relation to asbestos use and manufacturing, the quantity of the asbestos-containing products still in use, the concentrations of asbestos fibres in the air and the number of MM cases diagnosed each year per county. Results: The correlation coefficient of the measurements of the asbestos fibre concentrations in the air and the quantity of asbestos-cement products in use is high and amounts to 0.68. Meanwhile, the correlation coefficient of the measurements of asbestos fibre concentrations in air and MM morbidity rate resulting from environmental exposure calculated for particular counties in provinces is low and amounts to 0.37. The highest MM morbidity rate was observed for Małopolskie and Śląskie, a typical industrial area of Poland. Conclusions: There are MM cases which are still attributable to occupational asbestos exposure, although MM cases resulting from environmental exposure to asbestos have an increased MM risk. Poland is among those countries with a low MM incidence rate, which seems to be an underestimation of environmental asbestos exposure. As long as asbestos-cement products are used in the environment, actions should be undertaken to protect public health.

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Asbestos-Related Disorders in Germany: Background, Politics, Incidence, Diagnostics and Compensation

Cited by 20 publications

References 50 publications

Implementation of national policies for a total asbestos ban: a global comparison

Implementation of national policies for a total asbestos ban: a global comparison

Malignant mesothelioma and asbestos exposure in Europe: Evidence of spatial clustering

Environmental and Occupational Exposure to Asbestos as a Result of Consumption and Use in Poland

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