AboutMesothelioma.Net

A recent study by researchers at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health found the annual number of deaths related to mesothelioma was still increasing.

The findings highlight the need to control hazardous work-related exposures to asbestos to protect workers’ health.

Researchers at the Centers for Disease Control’s National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health charted recent trends in deaths due to mesothelioma by analyzing death certificates from 1999 through 2005, the most recent years for which complete data are available.

A total of 18,068 deaths were attributed to malignant mesothelioma during the period. The number increased from 2,482 deaths in 1999 to 2,704 in 2005 — a 8.9 percent increase. Of those deaths, 80 percent were males and 95 percent were whites, the study found. Past studies have shown higher incidence of mesothelioma in certain occupations such as plumbers, pipefitters, ship builders and construction workers.

Mesothelioma is a fatal cancer primarily associated with exposure to breathing asbestos fibers. Asbestos was used widely in construction and manufacturing throughout most of the 20th century. In recent decades federal environmental regulators have taken steps to reduce exposure to asbestos in workplaces.

While use of asbestos has declined sharply since the 1970s, the 20 to 40 year lag time before the cancer shows up means people are still developing cancers from exposures many years ago. And future cases will reflect the legacy of extensive past use of asbestos, highlighting the need to control hazardous work-related exposures to asbestos.

“Despite regulatory actions and the sharp decline in use of asbestos, potential exposure to asbestos continues, but most deaths from mesothelioma in the United States derive from exposures decades ago,” said Ki Moon Bang, a senior epidemiologist at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, and his colleagues, in the study. “Because mesothelioma manifests 20-40 years after first exposure, the number of mesothelioma deaths will likely peak by 2010.”

The annual number of mesotheloma cases increased significantly from the late 1970s through the mid 1990s.

The study reported that 26 states had death rates higher than the national average of 13.8 deaths per million people per year. Of those, six states had annual mesothelioma death rates exceeding 20 deaths per million people: Maine 27.5 deaths per million per year; Wyoming, 22.2; West Virginia, 21; Pennsylvania 20.8; New Jersey 20.2; and Washington 20.1.

Asbestos is no longer mined in the United States. But the mineral is still imported and used in various construction and transportation products. A substantial amount of asbestos still in buildings and eventually will be removed when the buildings are demolished or remodeled.

“Maintenance, renovation or demolition activities that might disturb asbestos should be performed with precautions that sufficiently prevent exposures for workers and the public,” the authors said.

The analysis showed the nation’s most populous states generally had the highest number of deaths attributable to mesothelioma.

California, by far the largest state in population with an estimated 36 million people, led in mesothelioma-related deaths with 1,779 from 1999-2005. Texas, second in population with 24 million people, placed fifth with 942 mesothelioma-related deaths. The third most populous state, New York ranked fourth on the mesothelioma mortality list with 1,051 deaths.

Florida, the 4th most populous state, was second on the mesothlioma mortality list with 1,213 deaths. Pennsylvania, sixth in population, was third with 1,211 mesothelioma-related deaths.