Result of a Medical Examination for the Acknowledgment of Designated Diseases under the Act on Asbestos Health Damage Relief

On May 25, the Minister of the Environment conducted a medical examination for patients suffering from asbestos-related diseases. The investigation was conducted in response to requests filed by the Environmental Restoration and Conservation Agency of Japan (ERCA) based on the Act on Asbestos Health Damage Relief.

Through the examination, 52 patients were determined to have contracted designated diseases associated with asbestos (38 cases of mesothelioma and 14 cases of lung cancer)* and 7 patients were determined to have died from asbestos-related diseases before the application for relief based on the law (6 cases of mesothelioma and 1 case of lung cancer)*. One person who died before the enforcement of this act was determined to have contracted lung cancer induced by asbestos*.

The Minister of the Environment will notify the ERCA of the results.

* The cumulative total of patients determined to have contracted designated asbestos-related diseases, as defined by the act, is 2,273 (1,810 cases of mesothelioma and 463 cases of lung cancer). The cumulative total of patients determined to have contracted designated asbestos-related diseases but to have died before the application for relief based on the law is 29 (23 cases of mesothelioma and 6 cases of lung cancer). The cumulative total of those determined to have contracted designated asbestos-related diseases but to have died before the enforcement of this act is 128 (4 cases of mesothelioma and 124 cases of lung cancer).

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