Press Release

June 09, 2008
  • Health & Chemicals

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

The Minister of the Environment, based on the Act on Asbestos Health Damage Relief, conducted a medical data examination on June 9th for patients suffering from asbestos-related diseases. This was in response to requests filed by the Environmental Restoration and Conservation Agency of Japan (ERCA).

Based on the examination, 18 patients were determined to have contracted a designated disease (16 with mesothelioma and 2 with lung cancer caused by asbestos)* and one person who died before the enforcement of this act were determined to have contracted lung cancer caused by asbestos*.

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

* A cumulative total of those determined to have contracted designated diseases as defined by the act is 1,584 (1,276 with mesothelioma and 308 with lung cancer caused by asbestos) and a cumulative total of those determined to have contracted designated diseases by asbestos but who died before the enforcement of this act is 102 (2 with mesothelioma and 100 with lung cancer caused by asbestos).

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