Result of the Medical Judgment Concerning Acknowledgment of Designated Diseases under the Act on Asbestos Health Damage Relief (September 27, 2012)

On September 27, 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 results to ERCA. A total of 136 cases were judged. Among them, 59 cases were certified, that he/she had contracted a designated disease caused by asbestos: 48 with malignant mesothelioma (MM), 7 with lung cancer (LC), 0 with lung asbestosis with heavy respiratory dysfunction (LA), and 4 with diffuse pleural thickenings with heavy respiratory dysfunction (DPT))*. Fifteen cases were certified, which died before
application for relief based on the law (13 with MM, 2 with LC, 0 with LA, 0 with DPT)*. And 1 case was certified, which died before the enforcement of this act (0 with MM, 1 with LC, 0 with LA, 0 with DPT)*.
* Cumulative total: 4,346 cases were judged to have contracted designated diseases as defined by the act; 393 cases were judged to have contracted designated diseases, which died before the application for relief based on the law; and 153 cases were judged to have contracted designated diseases by asbestos, which died before the enforcement of the act.

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