OCCUPATIONAL-DISEASE PROFILE IN TAIWAN, REPUBLIC-OF-CHINA

Lack of knowledge of the exact contents of the materials and improper handling of the toxic chemicals lead to the occurrence of occupational illnesses in the developing countries, However, the incidence of occu pational diseases was usually underestimated, This article presents th e profile of occupational diseases in Taiwan from two sources, i.e. oc cupational disease benefit payments of labor insurance and the review of relevant literature, The primarily documented occupational diseases in Taiwan were pneumoconioses. The second most common occupational di sease was carbon monoxide intoxication, followed by lead poisoning and noise-induced hearing loss, Less than five percent of occupational di seases were due to the other causes, including decompression syndrome, heat stroke, toxic hepatitis, neurological disorders and hematologic disorders, The number of occupational diseases recognized in Taiwan wa s considered to be seriously underestimated due to the shortage of occ upational medical specialists, Priority in the development of occupati onal medicine in Taiwan is to educate industrial hygienists and physic ians to recognize health hazards in the work environment and to diagno se occupational diseases, Recognition of occupational diseases could s ubsequently highlight the health hazards in the workplace and prevent workers from overexposure.