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Are current or future Mesothelioma epidemics in Hong Kong the tragic legacy of uncontrolled use of asbestos in the past?

Inhaled asbestos fibers may contribute to three-fourths of malignant mesotheliomas diagnosed in men and almost 40% of cases diagnosed in women. Bans on the manufacture and sale of amphibole asbestos fibers are expected to reduce the incidence of mesothelioma, but the long latency period from initial exposure to clinical disease means that people exposed before bans were enacted will continue to develop asbestos-related mesotheliomas as they age. Tse et al. used historical data on asbestos consumption and mesothelioma diagnoses to predict future mesothelioma trends in Hong Kong.