Epidemiology and Community Consequences of Asbestos Exposure in Western Australia

Principal Investigator: Professor AW (Bill) Musk
Institution: The University of Western Australia
Email: bill.musk@health.wa.gov.au
Phone: +61 8 9346 3252

This grants aims to explore the impact of asbestos exposure on the health of individuals using the Wittenoom workers and residents' cohort studies and the Australian community with the formation of a new community based cohort study. Using data from the Wittenoom workers and residents' studies, the impact of asbestos exposure on women's health, which has not been looked at before, will be examined. The project will examine if asbestos exposure affects psychosocial health and determine if long term supplementation with Vitamin A for cancer prevention results in an increased risk of bone fractures. The genetic susceptibility of asbestos related diseases in these cohorts will be examined, and researchers will create and validate an algorithm to derive measures of fibre counts from occupational histories.

Earlier projections of mesothelioma in the general community have been based on extrapolations from disease incidence in the past. This project will collect data on a new community based cohort, to examine the distribution of asbestos in the community in order to predict future cases of asbestos related disease and the perception, beliefs and knowledge that exist in the community of its potential health effects. With this new knowledge an intervention program with the aim of preventing future cases of asbestos related disease will be devised. As part of this process a multimedia website, as an information hub will be used. This will allow the use of creative media to present personal and community experiences of living with asbestos and present scientific research and public health messages.