A Case of Lung Cancer Caused by Long-Term Asbestos Exposure / 대한산업의학회지

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: To report a case of lung cancer caused by long-term asbestos exposure in a shipyard. METHODS: We evaluated chest X-ray, pulmonary function test, and chest CT and analyzed asbestos concentration in the lung tissue and bulk sample from the workplace. We also performed a workplace survey. RESULTS: The patient had worked at the shipyard for 31 years. The biopsy samples were processed to determine the asbestos content in the lung tissue and bulk sample using a transmission electron microscope (TEM) equipped with an energy dispersive X-ray analyzer (EDX). The TEM-EDX analysis revealed many asbestos fibers, the majority of which were amosite. In addition, the concentration asbestos fibers in the workplace exceeded the occupational exposure limits of asbestos. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings strongly suggest that this patient's lung cancer was related to the long-term asbestos exposure.