In all countries, occupational chronic respiratory diseases represent a public
health problem with economic implications (13). Technologies which are
obsolete or banned in industrialized countries are still largely used in the world’s
poorest countries (342). In low and middle income countries, occupational
illnesses are generally less visible and are not adequately recognized as a
problem. Moreover, in those countries, most patients are not compensated
and usually continue to work until the disease is severe and debilitating.