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.

• Keywords: Lung cancer;Asbestos;Shipyard