Press Release

April 24, 2009
  • Health & Chemicals

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

On April 24th, the Minister of the Environment conducted a medical examination for patients suffering from asbestos-related diseases in response to requests filed by the Environmental Restoration and Conservation Agency of Japan (ERCA) pursuant to the Act on Asbestos Health Damage Relief.

Based on the examination, 62 patients were determined to have contracted a designated disease (45 with mesothelioma and 17 with lung cancer caused by asbestos)*. Fifteen other patients were determined but died before the application (12 with mesothelioma and 3 with lung cancer caused by asbestos)*. Two persons who died before the enactment of the law 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 designated diseases as defined by the act is 2,221 (1,772 with mesothelioma and 449 with lung cancer caused by asbestos), and the cumulative total of those who have determined to have contracted designated diseases but died before the application is 22 (17 with mesothelioma and 5 with lung cancer caused by asbestos). The cumulative total of those determined to have contracted designated diseases by asbestos but who died before the enactment of the law is 127 (4 with mesothelioma and 123 with lung cancer caused by asbestos).

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