The Still Unfinished War 'Seokmyeon'... Busan, Nationwide First to Confirm Factory Area List for Free Screening

Free Health Checkups Conducted 12 Times for Over 650 Residents Near Former Asbestos Factory to Rapidly Identify Victims

Asbestos-Related Diseases Expected to Surge Until 2035 Considering Latency Period... Asbestos Environment Health Center Operatin

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yong-woo] There is still an ongoing war. It is "asbestos," which has burrowed into the body and taken root over 50 years. A project to provide free health checkups to residents in areas where asbestos factories used to be is being carried out in Busan.

Busan City (Acting Mayor Lee Byung-jin) announced on the 5th that starting in March, it will conduct a "visiting free health checkup" for about 650 Busan citizens who lived near former asbestos factories.

The target areas include ▲former asbestos factories ▲slate-dense areas ▲adjacent areas such as ship repair yards. Free health checkups will be conducted 12 times in total, with a total project budget of 136 million KRW this year.

The health checkup includes a basic examination consisting of a survey, chest X-ray, and doctor's consultation. If there is a suspicion of asbestos-related disease, a secondary detailed examination will be conducted.

By region, the checkup targets residents in old slate-dense areas such as ▲Bugok-dong, Geumjeong-gu ▲Dolsan Village and Uam-dong, Nam-gu ▲Yongho-dong, Nam-gu ▲Namcheon-dong, Suyeong-gu ▲Maechukji Village and Anchang Village, Beomil-dong, Dong-gu ▲Yeonsan-dong, Yeonje-gu ▲Cheonghak-dong, Yeongseon-dong, Bongnae-dong, Yeongdo-gu ▲Deokpo-dong and Samnak-dong, Sasang-gu ▲Gamcheon-dong, Gupyeong-dong, Jangnim-dong, Saha-gu ▲Gayadong, Busanjin-gu.

Asbestos is classified as a Group 1 carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) under the World Health Organization (WHO). Inhalation can cause serious diseases such as lung cancer, malignant mesothelioma, and asbestosis 10 to 50 years later.

The period of intensive asbestos use was from the 1970s to the 1990s, and considering the latency period, environmental diseases caused by asbestos are expected to appear starting from 2010 and peaking between 2020 and 2035.

To identify asbestos victims, Busan City conducted a survey for six months starting in December 2017, the first nationwide, targeting residents who lived for more than six months within a 2 km radius of former asbestos factories, securing a list of 178,020 people.

Based on this, health checkup guidance has been provided by radius zones, and this year, with a project budget of 136 million KRW, health checkups for about 650 people will be promoted.

Since 2008, the Asbestos Environmental Health Center at Yangsan Pusan National University Hospital has been operating as the first in the nation, conducting annual health impact surveys on residents exposed to asbestos. So far, 20,322 people have been examined, and 430 have been diagnosed with asbestos-related diseases. The city supports their treatment and daily life.

Citizens wishing to undergo the checkup can confirm detailed schedules through their district or county offices or administrative welfare centers and visit the checkup locations to receive free examinations. They can also make reservations and visit the Asbestos Environmental Health Center at Yangsan Pusan National University Hospital to receive checkups anytime.

Acting Mayor Lee Byung-jin of Busan said, "We plan to expand health impact surveys targeting residents in areas suspected of asbestos damage to quickly identify and assist asbestos patients."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.