A 51-year-old man who was born in South Africa presented with shortness of breath on exertion, increasing lethargy and a dry cough. He had never smoked. Medical history included nephritis at the age of 6 years, sinus drainage 20 years earlier, and psoriasis. He had no history of occupational or non-occupational exposure to asbestos, and had not lived near asbestos mines while in South Africa. He had not performed home renovations or building work in South Africa or Australia. After 12 months of national service in the South African Army, he worked in a plastics business in South Africa, selling perspex and acrylic products; he reported no involvement in plastics manufacturing. Since moving to Australia in 1995, he had worked in sales.

©The Medical Journal of Australia 2009 www.mja.com.au PRINT ISSN: 0025-729X ONLINE ISSN: 1326-5377