FREQUENCY OF OCCUPATIONAL ASBESTOS EXPOSURE AMONG LUNG CANCER PATIENTS IN HUNGARY.  A PRELIMINARY REPORT

MÁRIA POSGAY, ANDRÁS MÁNDI, GYÖRGY UNGVÁRY, PÁL VADÁSZ*, KATALIN MAJOR*, LÁSZLÓ NÉMETH

József Fodor National Center for Public Health
National Institute of Occupational Health, Budapest, Hungary
*Korányi National Institute of Tuberculosis and Pulmonology, Budapest, Hungary

Corresponding author: Mária Posgay, M.D.
József Fodor National Center for Public Health
National Institute of Occupational Health
1450 Budapest, P.O. Box 22, Hungary
 
CEJOEM 1999, Vol.5. No.1.:66-71



ABSTRACT: According to literary data in 1–20%, in majority of papers in 5% of lung cancer patients asbestos exposure in the working history can be proved. This would mean that in Hungary on the basis of the 6126 lung cancer incidence in 1996 at least in 60, maximally in 1200, with the highest probability in about 300 cases an occupational asbestos exposure could have been proved. But the number of observed such cases – apart from mesothelioma – is very small. Therefore the occupational history of 300 lung cancer patients is explored by a questionnaire compiled by the working group of the Justus-Liebig University, Giessen.
    Also available chest radiographs and Computed Tomography (CT) scans were re-evaluated by two independent radiologists with special emphasis on signs of asbestos-exposure, especially the presence of pleural plaques.
    On the basis of the data analyzed until now it is highly probable that similar percentage of asbestos-related malignancies can be proved also in Hungary.

KEY WORDS: Asbestos, asbestos-related cancer, lung cancer, occupational disease



Supported by the European Union, Contract No: IC 15-CT96-0301

Received: 19 March 1999
Accepted: 08 April 1999

Posted: December 1999

| Back |