Occupational asbestosis: recognition and compensation

Asbestos-related diseases are insufficiently identified and compensated. Ow ing to the increase in the knowledge of semiology, epidemiology, and evolut ion of these diseases, the criteria for their compensation must be reassess ed. High resolution computed tomography is now necessary for a clear identifica tion of asbestosis, pleural plaques (which may be sometimes unilateral) or visceral pleural fibrosis. As a consequence of dose-response and time-response relationships, a minimu m length of exposure should be required for the compensation of visceral pl eural fibrosis and asbestosis only, and the delay (after the end of exposur e) during which the disease is required to occur should be accepted up to 4 0 years for all asbestos-related diseases. As soon as asbestos exposure is clearly documented, pleural plaques or meso thelioma ought to be;compensated whatever the length of exposure or the del ay elapsed since the end of exposure. Conversely for asbestosis or visceral pleural fibrosis the level of exposure needs to be more accurately assesse d. Pension rates under 5% should not be admitted in case of asbestos-related d isease roentgenologically characterised, even in the absence of any respira tory functional impairment.