Press Release

November 10, 2008
  • Health & Chemicals

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

On November 10th, 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 Act on Asbestos Health Damage Relief.

Based on the examination, 29 patients were determined to have contracted a designated disease (22 with mesothelioma and 7 with lung cancer caused by asbestos)* and 2 persons who died before the enforcement of this act were determined to have contracted a designated disease (one with mesothelima and the other with lung cancer caused by asbestos*).

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

* The cumulative total of those determined to have contracted designated diseases as defined by the act is 1,903 (1,534 with mesothelioma and 369 with lung cancer caused by asbestos), and the cumulative total of those determined to have contracted designated diseases by asbestos but who died before the enforcement of this act is 114 (4 with mesothelioma and 110 with lung cancer caused by asbestos).


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