History of asbestos related disease

Postgrad Med J. 2004 Feb;80(940):72-6. doi: 10.1136/pmj.2003.012526.

Abstract

The first medical article on the hazards of asbestos dust appeared in the British Medical Journal in 1924. Following inquiries by Edward Merewether and Charles Price, the British government introduced regulations to control dangerous dust emissions in UK asbestos factories. Until the 1960s these appeared to have addressed the problem effectively. Only then, with the discoveries that mesothelioma was an asbestos related disease and that workers other than those employed in the dustiest parts of asbestos factories were at risk, were the nature and scale of the hazard reassessed. In Britain, America, and elsewhere new and increasingly strict regulations were enacted.

Publication types

  • Historical Article

MeSH terms

  • Asbestos / adverse effects
  • Asbestos / history*
  • Asbestosis / etiology
  • Asbestosis / history
  • Forecasting
  • History, 20th Century
  • Humans
  • Lung Neoplasms / etiology
  • Lung Neoplasms / history*
  • Mesothelioma / etiology
  • Mesothelioma / history*
  • Risk Factors

Substances

  • Asbestos