Asbestos-related Diseases

Asbestosis is defined as diffused interstitial fibrosis of the lung, as a consequence of exposure to asbestos fibres, often associated with pleural plaques. Diagnosis of asbestosis, according to the American Thoracic Society (2004) is based on the following criteria: 1. hystopathological or imaging demonstration of structural alterations compatible with asbestos-related disease; 2. previous asbestos exposure demonstrated by occupational or environmental anamnestic data, or by specific markers like pleural plaques or thickenings; 3. exclusion of other causes; 4. documented impairment of lung function. In some cases, moderate fibrosis can be present together with major respiratory impairment. Some cohort studies have shown asbestosis to be the cause of 12-20% of observed deaths, or even more (Lemen, 2005).