Samenvatting
Asbestos is among the most serious environmental and occupational health problems in modern history. After nearly a century of extensive use, the E.U. decided for a total asbestos ban in 2005. Today, asbestos remains a major public health concern. Fatal diseases occur decades after exposure. A recent study from the WHO [1] indicates a significant rise in mesothelioma deaths worldwide. Despite the presence of one of Europe's biggest asbestos groups, Eternit, Belgian asbestos-related mortality has been scarcely researched.
This paper aims to improve the understanding of the impact of asbestos in an international perspective by providing a descriptive analysis of mesothelioma mortality in Belgium.
Within a quantitative demographic research design, we analyzed cause-specific mortality data from the WHO Mortality Database (1969-1997) and from the Scientific Institute of Public Health (1987-2009). The impact of asbestos is represented by the burden of mesothelioma (ICD-8= 163.0; ICD-9= 163; ICD-10=C45).
Compared to the WHO study [1], Belgian mesothelioma mortality is among the highest in the world. With an age-adjusted mortality rate (AAMR) of 8.9 per million in 1994-2008, Belgium immediately follows the top three: the U.K. (17.8), Australia (16.5) and Italy (10.3).
Belgian mesothelioma deaths have strongly increased over time. AAMRs are nearly 7 times higher from 1.6 deaths in 1969 to 10.5 deaths per million in 2009. After a progressive increase of male deaths in the mid-1980s, large differences between sexes are apparent. Our results strongly suggest an important impact of the asbestos industry. Mesothelioma deaths are mostly concentrated in specific geographic areas related to former asbestos industries.
Belgian mesothelioma mortality has long been underestimated. With the long latency periods of asbestos-related diseases and the current existence of asbestos in buildings, asbestos entails an important impact on health today and in the future.
[1] Delgermaa, V. et al. (2011). 'Global mesothelioma deaths reported to the World Health Organization between 1994 and 2008.' Bulletin of the World Health Organization 89(10): 716-724C.
This paper aims to improve the understanding of the impact of asbestos in an international perspective by providing a descriptive analysis of mesothelioma mortality in Belgium.
Within a quantitative demographic research design, we analyzed cause-specific mortality data from the WHO Mortality Database (1969-1997) and from the Scientific Institute of Public Health (1987-2009). The impact of asbestos is represented by the burden of mesothelioma (ICD-8= 163.0; ICD-9= 163; ICD-10=C45).
Compared to the WHO study [1], Belgian mesothelioma mortality is among the highest in the world. With an age-adjusted mortality rate (AAMR) of 8.9 per million in 1994-2008, Belgium immediately follows the top three: the U.K. (17.8), Australia (16.5) and Italy (10.3).
Belgian mesothelioma deaths have strongly increased over time. AAMRs are nearly 7 times higher from 1.6 deaths in 1969 to 10.5 deaths per million in 2009. After a progressive increase of male deaths in the mid-1980s, large differences between sexes are apparent. Our results strongly suggest an important impact of the asbestos industry. Mesothelioma deaths are mostly concentrated in specific geographic areas related to former asbestos industries.
Belgian mesothelioma mortality has long been underestimated. With the long latency periods of asbestos-related diseases and the current existence of asbestos in buildings, asbestos entails an important impact on health today and in the future.
[1] Delgermaa, V. et al. (2011). 'Global mesothelioma deaths reported to the World Health Organization between 1994 and 2008.' Bulletin of the World Health Organization 89(10): 716-724C.
Originele taal-2 | English |
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Titel | Paper presented at the 6th European Public Health Conference |
Status | Published - 15 nov 2013 |
Evenement | 6th European Public Health Conference - Brussels, Brussels, Belgium Duur: 13 nov 2013 → 16 nov 2013 |
Conference
Conference | 6th European Public Health Conference |
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Verkorte titel | EUPHA 2013 |
Land/Regio | Belgium |
Stad | Brussels |
Periode | 13/11/13 → 16/11/13 |
Ander | Health in Europe: are we there yet? Learning from the past, building the future |