Why is Bernardino Ramazzini called the father of occupational medicine?

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Asbestosis — occupational disease The lung disease asbestosis is caused primarily by prolonged inhalation of asbestos fibers. It occurs mainly among workers whose occupations involve exposure to asbestos and people who live near mines, factories, and construction sites.

Bernardino Ramazzini is regarded as the father of occupational medicine primarily because he authored De Morbis Artificum Diatriba (Diseases of Workers), which was the first comprehensive study of occupational diseases.1

Published in 1700, this foundational work systematically outlined the health hazards associated with 52 different occupations. Ramazzini identified the dangers posed by exposure to irritating chemicals, dust, metals, and various abrasive agents, establishing a scientific approach to understanding how specific work environments impact human health. His pioneering efforts in documenting these risks laid the groundwork for the field of industrial hygiene and workplace safety, ensuring that the health of laborers became a recognized and essential focus of medical practice.1