Western Australia Asbestos Review Program

This is a longitudinal observational study that will monitor the health of Western Australians who have been exposed to asbestos through an annual clinical review. Who is it for? You may be eligible for this study if you are a resident of Western Australia aged 16 years or older, you are an asbestos exposed ex-worker and/or ex-resident of Wittenoom (the asbestos mine), or if you are an individual with more than 3 months cumulative asbestos exposure and/or radiological evidence of asbestos related disease. Study details All participants who choose to enrol in this study will be asked to undergo a general and lung health assessment, lung function tests and an ultra-low dose CT scan of the chest to look for lung disease from asbestos. The Western Australian Asbestos Review Program (ARP) also performs blood tests to see if we can find markers of lung disease to help diagnose problems earlier. Each of these investigations will be completed annually, the appointment usually takes about two hours. The ARP has no limit on age or how long it is since first exposure to asbestos – the study aims to follow as many people exposed to asbestos for as long as possible. It is hoped this research will provide important information that will allow clinicians to further characterise, diagnose and understand asbestos-related diseases. This information may then be used to improve health outcomes of future patients who have been affected by asbestos exposure.