Mesothelioma Deaths Peak 30 Years After Asbestos Ban

Almost 30 years after Italy passed sweeping legislation that banned the mining, use and commercialization of asbestos, the country is facing the peak of its mesothelioma cancer crisis. The worst has just arrived. Asbestos may be the primary cause of mesothelioma, but banning it did not slow the rate of diagnosis or death from this rare and aggressive cancer. The International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health published an in-depth study recently that examined the connection in Italy between its ban of asbestos and the deaths from mesothelioma. Researchers found there is no immediate benefit from an asbestos ban, serving as a reminder to continue the search for a cure to save those who will be diagnosed in the future. “The MPM [malignant pleural mesothelioma] epidemic in Italy is still far from being concluded,” the study authors wrote. “Our results suggest that the number of MPM cases is still increasing.” Italy Passed Its Ban Almost 30 Years Ago Italy passed its ban of asbestos in 1992. It is one of more than 60 countries today that have instituted some form of a ban. Yet the rate of asbestos-related disease is at an all-time high, exceeding an estimated 100,000 deaths annually, according to the World Health Organization. Asbestos is the naturally occurring mineral that was used ubiquitously through much of the 20th century in a myriad of products. It was hailed for its versatility, strength and heat resistance. Unfortunately, asbestos also is toxi...
Source: Asbestos and Mesothelioma News - Category: Environmental Health Authors: Source Type: news