Preface

Occupational disease is certainly one of the most important public health problems of the 21^st century. Occupational disease still accounts for much preventable illnesses and injuries in the workplace. It is important to incorporate modern knowledge of disease epidemiology and cutting-edge diagnostic methods and treatment with the most recent developments in the management and prevention methods to better control work-related diseases and injuries. This book provides comprehensive coverage of all aspects of selected occupational diseases and injuries. It offers accurate, current information on the history, causes, diagnosis, management and prevention of occupational diseases.

This book is intended to serve as a useful guide for all those who are interested in occupational diseases. These include occupational medicine specialists, general practitioners, medical students, graduate students in public health, occupational health nurses, or colleagues and professionals in occupational health and safety — in other words, for all who have committed themselves to do the best practice for the occupational health of working people. The application of this book is not limited to the medical profession. It is equally needed by those responsible for control and prevention of occupational diseases, including managers at companies and government agencies responsible for the working environment of the industrialized country.

This book was assembled by a group of renowned scholars with special expertise in occupational diseases, addressing important occupational diseases including asbestosis, silicosis, work-related asthma, occupational cancer, and other diseases. This book was organized into 14 chapters. All chapters have been fully updated and enhanced to provide well-organized, practical, and relevant information. Each chapter highlights the latest research findings, the cutting-edge diagnostic methods, etiology, and the most recent developments in the management and prevention of occupational disease and injuries. Chapter 1 addresses the importance of occupational diseases in the 21^st century. Chapter 2 discusses general methods for epidemiology and use of epidemiology in occupational diseases. Chapters 3-8 cover preventable occupational diseases including asbestosis, silicosis, coal worker’s pneumoconiosis, occupational chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, work-related asthma, and acute respiratory infections. Chapters 9 and 10 cover occupational cancers including malignant mesothelioma and up-to-date review of the occurrence and causes of occupational cancer and prevention. Chapter 11 discusses the importance of causation of occupational diseases and the role of the International Agency for Research on Cancer and reviews silica dust as a known human carcinogen. Chapter 12 discusses health effects of arsenic. Chapter 13 discusses fatal injuries related to falls from elevated work sites and prevention strategy for safety in the construction industry. Chapter 14 reviews the etiology and risk factors, risk assessment, prevention, and surveillance of work-related musculoskeletal disorders. Case studies have been incorporated in these chapters to expand on the relevant issues. This book is therefore a detailed, comprehensive, and well reference text.

Preparing this book has been a challenging experience in my occupational epidemiology career. I was fortunate to have eminent authors in occupational diseases or safety who have contributed their chapters to the book. I wish to thank them for their great efforts on their chapters. I would like to acknowledge Dr. William Rom, Dr. David Christiani, Dr. Kenneth Rosenman, and Dr. John Parker for their support and encouragement. Finally, I would like to dedicate this book to my wife, Hanok who saw several months of weekends disappear into this effort and my two sons, Drs. Sam Bang and David Bang.