[The Amiantus Program in Poland - 20 years of implementation].

Area of Science:

• Occupational Medicine
• Public Health
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Despite Poland's ban on asbestos-containing materials over 20 years ago, asbestos-related diseases persist.
• Systematic respiratory function monitoring is crucial for individuals with past asbestos exposure due to the mineral's health risks.

Observation:

• The Amiantus preventive medical examination program, initiated in 2000, provides lifelong health monitoring for former asbestos processing plant employees.
• Over 20 years, 8329 individuals underwent 34,454 examinations, focusing on respiratory system assessment.
• The prevalence of diagnosed pathologies increased from 8% in 2000 to 25% in 2019.

Findings:

• The Amiantus Program diagnosed 2078 asbestos-related diseases, representing 25% of examined individuals.
• Asbestosis was the most common diagnosis (90.5%), followed by lung cancer (5.8%) and pleural mesothelioma (3.7%).
• Pleural diseases (plaques, thickening) affected 40%, and radiological pulmonary shadows were observed in over 65% of participants.

Implications:

• The Amiantus Program's long-term data offers unique insights into the natural history of asbestos-related diseases.
• Continuous epidemiological analysis is vital for understanding and mitigating the long-term health consequences of asbestos exposure.
• The findings underscore the importance of ongoing occupational health surveillance programs for populations with historical exposure to hazardous materials.