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International Mesothelioma Registry

ByHolly Zink
International Mesothelioma Registry

An international group of researchers have provided recommendations for countries to create a mesothelioma registry.

Mesothelioma registries are great tools to monitor the negative effects of asbestos. It can help to identify clusters of asbestos exposure. Registries can also track the impact of asbestos reduction programs.

Asbestos Health Risks

Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that has been found throughout the world. Even though it is toxic, it is used in manufacturing and construction in many countries around the world.

Mesothelioma is a cancer that is caused by exposure to asbestos. It grows in the lining of organs like the lungs.

Generally, those who develop mesothelioma show no signs of illness for a long time after their first exposure. It can take from 10 to 40 years or more for symptoms of an asbestos-related condition to appear.

Health risks from asbestos exposure increase with heavier exposure and longer exposure time. But studies have found that even brief exposures can cause mesothelioma.

Centralized Information

Malignant mesothelioma is a rare cancer which makes it hard to study. A mesothelioma registry is a centralized place to hold patient information.

It would house details about tumors, diagnosis, symptoms, and exposure history. Researchers and doctors could use the information to improve mesothelioma care.

Italy is one of the few countries to manage a national mesothelioma registry. Italy used a lot of asbestos in the 1900s, and finally banned the substance in 1992. Today, Italy is experiencing a serious public health challenge with rising mesothelioma cases.

The Italian National Mesothelioma Registry tracks mesothelioma patient data and supports workers’ compensation.

Australia, France, and South Korea also have national mesothelioma registries.

The authors acknowledge that it takes “time and perseverance” to create a mesothelioma registry. Cooperation at the local level is critical to a successful registry.

Registries like the one in Italy also help countries provide the best available therapies for mesothelioma patients.

Source:

Magnani, C., Mensi, C., Binazzi, A., Marsili, D., Grosso, F., Ramos-Bonilla, J.P., Ferrante, D., Migliore, E., Mirabelli, D., Terracini, B. and Consonni, D., 2023. The Italian Experience in the Development of Mesothelioma Registries: A Pathway for Other Countries to Address the Negative Legacy of Asbestos. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20(2), p.936.

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