Press Release

August 18, 2008
  • Health & Chemicals

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

On August 18th, the Minister of the Environment conducted a medical data examination for patients suffering from asbestos-related diseases in response to requests filed by the Environmental Restoration and Conservation Agency of Japan (ERCA) based on the Asbestos Health Damage Relief Act.

Based on the examination, 64 patients were determined to have contracted a designated disease (54 with mesothelioma and 10 with lung cancer caused by asbestos)* and one patient who died before the enforcement of this act was determined to have contracted mesothelioma*.

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

* The cumulative total of those determined to have contracted a designated disease as defined by the act is 1,744 (1,410 with mesothelioma and 334 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 107 (3 with mesothelioma and 104 with lung cancer caused by asbestos).


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