Result of the Medical Judgment Concerning Acknowledgment of Designated Diseases under the Act on Asbestos Health Damage Relief (August 28th 2012)

On August 28th 2012, the Minister of the Environment conducted medical judgment on cases filed by the Environmental Restoration and Conservation Agency of Japan (ERCA) based on the Act on Asbestos Health Damage Relief, and gave notice of result to ERCA.

Total of 130 cases were judged. Among them, 58 cases were certified that he/she had contracted a designated disease caused by asbestos (46 with malignant mesothelioma (MM), nine with lung cancer (LC), two with lung asbestosis with heavy respiratory dysfunction (LA), one with diffuse pleural thickenings with heavy respiratory dysfunction (DPT))*. 12 cases were certified that death was before application for relief based on the law (11 with MM, one with LC, none with LA, and none with DPT)*.No case was certified that death was before the enforcement of this act*.

*The cumulative total: 4,287 cases were judged to have contracted designated diseases as defined by the act. 378 cases were judged to have contracted designated diseases, and died before the application for relief based on the law. 152 cases were judged to have contracted designated diseases by asbestos, and died before the enforcement of this act.

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