Australia Launches New Registry to Track Mesothelioma and Asbestos Exposure
Wednesday, May 5th, 2010Government officials in Australia this week announced a new national database to track the country’s asbestos-related cancer epidemic.
The Australian Mesothelioma Registry will collect detailed information about new cases of mesothelioma and mesothelioma patients’ past exposure to asbestos. Mesothelioma is a cancer of the lining of the lung or abdomen associated with inhaling asbestos fibers. A consortium led by the Cancer Institute of New South Wales will oversee the registry.
In previous decades, Australia had the highest per capita consumption of asbestos of any country in the world. Today, it has one of the world’s highest rates of mesothelioma.
The number of new cases of mesothelioma diagnosed annually in Australia has been increasing dramatically since at least 1982. The country’s population adjusted death rate from mesothelioma is more than 50 percent higher than the United States.
“It is important that we track progress of this disease cause by Australia’s high use of asbestos in the past,” said Tom Phillips, chair of Safe Work Australia, a government agency that works to improve occupational health and safety for workers. “Through the collection of more detailed information, the new registry will provide important information on the types and levels of exposure to asbestos that typically result in mesothelioma.”
Overall, the age-adjusted death rate in Australia due to mesothelioma was 23 deaths per million population. By comparison, the annual U.S. rate is 14 deaths per million.
The incidence of mesothelioma in Australia is expected to get worse. The epidemic isn’t estimated to peak in Australia before 2017. Australia’s experience is an important example for those countries still using asbestos, government officials said.
The registry will contribute evidence to the international policy debate about banning all forms of asbestos worldwide. The World Health Organization has urged a ban on asbestos.
