South Africa has possibly the highest incidence of malignant mesothelioma anywhere, thanks to more than a century of mining asbestos in the Northern Cape, North- West, Limpopo and Mpumulanga provinces. There are three types of asbestos and all were mined in South Africa; the most carcinogenic is cro ... cidolite, of which production peaked in 1977. The last asbestos mine closed only in 2002, and massive environmental contamination from unrehabilitated mines and mine dumps will ensure ongoing exposure well into the future. more

Silicosis is not a new disease; the impact of silica dust on respiratory function was observed by Hippocrates in 430 B.C. and in the 16th century by Agricol. In 1713, Rammazini described silicotic nodules in post-mortems of stone cutters presenting with respiratory symptoms. In the mid-late 1800s, ... the introduction of mechanized tools in the mining sector rapidly increased levels of silica exposure, resulting in an increase in cases and our understanding of silicosis. more