Kjellstrom, Tord2015-12-132015-12-131077-3525http://hdl.handle.net/1885/78776New Zealand is a small country with a big asbestos disease problem. The lack of action on warnings in the 1960s and 1970s has led to epidemics of mesothelioma and asbestosis, which can be clearly documented via the death and cancer registers. In addition, an uncertain number of lung cancers due to asbestos exposure has occurred. The epidemic started in the 1980s, and will eventually have cost the lives of at least 2,000 to 3,000 workers. Prevention against ongoing exposures from asbestos installed in buildings is essential, and another key issue for New Zealand is to ensure that fair workers' compensation is provided to all victims of asbestos diseases.Keywords: asbestos; asbestosis; building industry; cancer incidence; cancer mortality; cancer prevention; cancer risk; epidemic; human; lung carcinoma; New Zealand; pleura mesothelioma; preventive medicine; priority journal; review; risk reduction; workman compensa Asbestos; Asbestosis; Epidemiology; Lung cancer; Mesothelioma; Workers' compensation20042015-12-11