ON THE USE OF ASBESTOS IN CENTRAL ASIAN COUNTRIES: FINDINGS IN POSTMORTEM LUNG SAMPLES, CHARACTERIZATION OF ASBESTOS-CONTAINING MATERIALS, ENVIRONMENTAL AND OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE. CASE STUDIES IN KYRGYZSTAN.

Asbestos is classified as a human carcinogen and banned across Europe and many parts of the world, including Italy. However, this is not the case in Central Asia. In Kyrgyzstan, asbestos-containing products are still manufactured by two companies in three locations, producing over 5 million units annually and widely used across the country and beyond. One of the aggressive consequences of asbestos-related diseases is malignant mesothelioma. The estimated age-standardized incidence of mesothelioma (both sexes, all ages) in Kyrgyzstan was 0,06 in 2020, 2nd lowest index among other Central Asian (CA) countries (Tajikistan 0,02; Uzbekistan 0,11; Turkmenistan 0,16; Kazakhstan 0,23, while in Italy it is 1.0. Several hypotheses can explain this data, including the type of asbestos used, underreporting, low environmental exposure, and “controlled use” of chrysotile in manufacturing. This thesis aims to develop insights into asbestos production in Central Asia by analysing the chemical composition of asbestos samples taken in Kyrgyzstan; measuring the environmental exposure present in Urban areas through air sampling; and measuring the occupational exposure in one of these industries through the same method. This thesis also presents an analysis of lung samples taken from the general population of Kyrgyzstan in non-occupational settings, further aiming to examine the health risks of such exposure. Overall, this thesis intends to fill the gap in academic knowledge concerning the use and risks of asbestos in Central Asia through the example of Kyrgyzstan and to contribute more generally to the knowledge concerning the dangers of chrysotile asbestos exposure.