%0 Journal Article %A Carl Reynolds %A Christopher Barber %A Paul Cullinan %T Late-breaking abstract: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, asbestosis and mesothelioma, trends for England and Wales: Is asbestos exposure associated with IPF? %D 2014 %J European Respiratory Journal %P 3205 %V 44 %N Suppl 58 %X Background: We hypothesised that a proportion of cases of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) are due to occult environmental or occupational exposures to asbestos.Aims and objectives: To investigate the ecological associations between IPF, asbestosis and mesothelioma mortality in England and Wales from 1974-2102.Results:IPF mortality continues to rise; the male:female ratio is approximately 1.6:1.IPF, asbestosis and mesothelioma mortality data show a strong positive correlation in men and death rates from each were highest in the North West and South East of England.Conclusion: These data are consistent with the hypothesis that a proportion of IPF is due to occult asbestos exposure, probably incurred in the workplace. The high rates of IPF mortality in the North West and South East of England may be due to historically high levels of asbestos dust exposure from shipyard work. %U