Background: New manufacturing processes have contributed to new types of occupational dust-related diseases. The objective of this study was to review the case reports and epidemiological studies on dust-related diseases published, recent statistics of workers’ compensation, and policy responses undertaken by the occupational health authorities.
Methods: We conducted a narrative literature review of peer-reviewed medical case reports and epidemiological studies published in Chinese and English between 2014 and 2024. We also examined recent occupational compensation statistics and performed an archival analysis using press releases, official guidelines, reports, and educational materials issued by the Ministry of Labor of Taiwan.
Results: Over the past 10 years, researchers in Taiwan published 24 medical case reports on pneumoconiosis, documenting a total of 29 cases, with recent cases predominantly linked to the artificial stone industry. During the same period, 12 epidemiological studies were published, primarily with national health insurance records, labor insurance data, and hospital medical records, to identify geographic patterns, high-risk industries, and temporal trends. The number of occupational lung disease cases and compensation claims fluctuated but showed a downward trend in recent years, showing differences between epidemiological data. In recent years, the occupational health authorities have issued administrative orders and guidelines regarding dust hazards, mostly in the form of financial subsidies and guidance, to encourage businesses to invest in dust control and personal protective equipment.
Conclusions: The occupational health community and labor authorities are concerned about dust exposures and their occupational health impacts. However, policy measures are not mandatory, and whether they can effectively prevent dust-related diseases remains to be further explored.
