[Asbestos-related diseases]

The growing use of asbestos in France like in other industrialized countries since the beginning of the century is the reason of the increase of asbestos-related diseases, which occur after long latency periods. From asymptomatic benign pleural plaques up to malignant mesothelioma of poor prognosis, the fibrogenic and carcinogenic properties of asbestos mainly concern occupationally exposed subjects. The Institut national de la santé et de la recherche médicale (INSERM) expert committee concluded that about 1,950 deaths due to asbestos-related cancers occurred in France in 1996. Reinforcement of French legislation aims at reducing all kinds of asbestos exposure.