Malignant mesothelioma and lung cancer are representative examples of occupational cancer. Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death, and the incidence of malignant mesothelioma is expected to increase sharply in the near future. Although information about lung carcinogen exposure is limited, it is estimated that the number of workers exposed to carcinogens has declined. The first official case of occupational cancer was malignant mesothelioma caused by asbestos exposure in the asbestos textile industry in 1992. Since then, compensation for occupational respiratory cancer has increased. The majority of compensated lung cancer was due to underlying pneumoconiosis. Other main causative agents of occupational lung cancer included asbestos, hexavalent chromium, and crystalline silica. Related jobs included welders, foundry workers, platers, plumbers, and vehicle maintenance workers. Compensated malignant mesotheliomas were associated with asbestos exposure. Epidemiologic studies conducted in Korea have indicated an elevated risk of lung cancer in pneumoconiosis patients, foundry workers, and asbestos textile workers. Occupational respiratory cancer has increased during the last 10 to 20 yr though carcinogen-exposed population has declined in the same period. More efforts to advance the systems for the investigation, prevention and management of occupational respiratory cancer are needed.
Asbestos/toxicity ; Carcinogens/toxicity ; Chromium/toxicity ; Female ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms/chemically induced/*epidemiology/*etiology ; Male ; Mesothelioma/epidemiology/*etiology ; Occupational Diseases/chemically induced/*epidemiology/etiology ; Occupational Exposure/*adverse effects ; Pneumoconiosis/complications ; Republic of Korea/epidemiology ; Silicon Dioxide/toxicity ; Workers' Compensation

This study identifies the number of pneumoconiosis patients after eliminating deceased patients between 2003 and 2008 as of January 1st and estimates it for the next five years. From 2003 to 2008, the pneumoconiosis patients were 16,929, 17,224, 17,366, 17,566, 17,542, and 17,546, respectively. The number of pneumoconiosis patients will have increased by 1,014 from 2008 to 18,560 in 2013 after applying the average change rates taken from 2003 to 2007. It takes 15-20 yr to develop coal workers' pneumoconiosis (the main cause in Korea) and patients will continue to be diagnosed with pneumoconiosis for some years to come since it has only been 20 yr since the decline of the coal mining industry in Korea. In addition, pneumoconiosis patients are increasing in industries in which the risk of pneumoconiosis was relatively low shows the necessity to improve dust-exposed workplace environments.
Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Air Pollutants, Occupational/adverse effects ; Anthracosis/*epidemiology ; Coal Mining ; Dust ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Occupational Exposure/adverse effects ; Pneumoconiosis/*epidemiology/etiology ; Republic of Korea/epidemiology