Press Release
- Health & Chemicals
Results of the Medical Data Examination for Acknowledgment of Designated Diseases under the Act on Asbestos Health Damage Relief
On July 22nd, the Minister of the Environment conducted a medical data examination of patients suffering from asbestos-related diseases in response to requests filed by the Environmental Restoration and Conservation Agency of Japan (ERCA) based on the Act on Asbestos Health Damage Relief.
Based on the examination, 62 patients were determined to have contracted one of the designated diseases (51 with mesothelioma and 11 with lung cancer caused by asbestos)* and 2 persons who died before the enforcement of said act were determined to have contracted lung cancer caused by asbestos*.
The Minister of the Environment will notify the ERCA of the results.
* The cumulative total of those determined to have contracted a designated disease as defined by the act is 1,680 (1,356 with mesothelioma and 324 with lung cancer caused by asbestos), and the cumulative total of those determined to have contracted a designated disease by asbestos but who died before the enforcement of this act is 106 (2 with mesothelioma and 104 with lung cancer caused by asbestos).