An official website of the European Union (EU) marked Mesothelioma Awareness Day (September 26th) with an article reviewing the most recent statistics on the impact of the rare asbestos-related disease on the EU population.
EU Population Suffered 2,380 Preventable Deaths from Mesothelioma in 2021
The mesothelioma data was published on Eurostat, the European Union’s official website for high-quality statistics and data on Europe. Concluding that the rare asbestos-related cancer continues to be a relevant occupational disease, the website reported that the EU registered 2,380 preventable deaths from mesothelioma, reflecting a steady decrease since 2013 when the reported number was 3,341.
Breaking the deaths down by country, the highest number of mesothelioma deaths in 2021 was reported by Italy, with 518 deaths, followed by Germany with 400 and France with 329. The lowest number of mesothelioma deaths were reported by Cyprus and Estonia, which each had just two deaths, and Malta and Luxembourg, which each reported three deaths.
Mesothelioma is the Second-Most Common Occupational Cancer in the EU
Though malignant mesothelioma is extremely rare, it was the second-most common type of occupational cancer in the European Union after lung cancer; between 2013 and 2021, there were 13,530 cases of mesothelioma compared to 13,944 cases of lung cancer. The asbestos-related disease accounted for approximately 40% of total occupational cancers during that period.
Eurostat reported that there were 1,409 new cases of mesothelioma reported in the EU in 2021, accounting for 43% of total occupational cancers for that year and an increase from 2020’s 1,274 new recognized cases. This number reflects a decrease of 214 cases from 2013, and the EU statisticians believe that this fluctuation may reflect the impact of the global COVID-19 pandemic, which impacted healthcare systems and overall reporting.
As mesothelioma continues to claim lives around the world, researchers are working to find a cure, and advocates are working to find better ways to protect workers and others. Contact the Patient Advocates at Mesothelioma.net today at 1-800-692-8608 for information and resources.
