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(c) 2010-2024 Jon L Gelman, All Rights Reserved.

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

Asbestos Related Diseases Reflecting a Slight Decline

Asbestosis: Number of deaths, crude and age-adjusted death rates, U.S. residents age 15 and over, 1968–2005

Asbestosis deaths among U.S. residents age 15 and over have increased from 78 in 1968 to 1,493 in 2000 and then decreased slightly to 1,470 in 2004. (Ref. No. 2007F01-01, 2007T01-01). Data from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) indicate a trend towards lower asbestos exposure levels from 1979 to 1999, concomitant with mandated reductions in the OSHA permissible exposure limit (PEL). However, data indicate a steady increase in asbestos exposure levels in the mining industry for the years 2000 through 2003 and a slight rise in all other industries in the two years previous to 2003. (Ref. No. 2007F01-05, 2007T01-12).

Residents of California, Florida, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia, and Washington together accounted for nearly half of all asbestosis deaths in the 1995 to 2004 period. (Ref. No. 2007T01-04).

There were over 15,000 malignant mesothelioma deaths among U.S. residents age 15 and over accounting for more than 200,000 years of potential life lost to life expectancy in the 1999–2004 period. (Ref. No. 2007T07-01, 2007T07-03). For 1999–2004, nearly 20% of mesothelioma decedents were female. (Ref. No. 2007T07-01). Occupations associated with significantly elevated mesothelioma mortality in 1999 include plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters; mechanical engineers; electricians; and elementary school teachers. (Ref. No. 2007T07-09).

The Work-Related Lung Disease (WoRLD) Surveillance System, produced by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), presents up-to-date summary tables, graphs, and figures of occupationally-related respiratory disease surveillance data on the pneumoconioses, occupational asthma and other airways diseases, and several other respiratory conditions. For many of these diseases, selected data on related exposures are also presented.

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