Autor: |
Le GV (AUTHOR), Takahashi K (AUTHOR), Karjalainen A (AUTHOR), Delgermaa V (AUTHOR), Hoshuyama T (AUTHOR), Miyamura Y (AUTHOR), Furuya S (AUTHOR), Higashi T (AUTHOR), Pan G (AUTHOR), Wagner G (AUTHOR) |
Zdroj: |
Environmental Health Perspectives. Jan2010, Vol. 118 Issue 1, p116-119. 4p. |
Abstrakt: |
Background: National disparities in asbestos use will likely lead to an unequal burden of asbestos diseases. Objectives: As economic status may be linked to asbestos use, we assessed, globally, the relationship between indicators of national economic development and asbestos use. Methods: For the 135 countries that have ever used asbestos, per capita asbestos use (kilograms per capita per year) was compared with per capita gross domestic product (GDP) in 1990 Geary- Khamis dollars (GKD) for the period 1920-2003. Countries were grouped into three income levels (high, middle, and low) that were adapted from the 2003 World Bank categories. Results: The historical pattern of asbestos use followed the environmental Kuznets curve in which use by high-income countries peaked when incomes attained 10,000-15,000 GKD and essentially ceased at income levels over 20,000 GKD. Currently, middle- and low-income countries are increasing their use of asbestos, closely following the paths once traced by higher income countries. Conclusions: Developing countries have the opportunity to eliminate asbestos use sooner than high-income countries and thus reduce the future burden of asbestos diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
Databáze: |
GreenFILE |
Externí odkaz: |
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