Asbestos-related disease statistics in Great Britain, 2021
There were 2,369 mesothelioma deaths in the UK……it is estimated that there were, in addition, a similar number of deaths due to asbestos-related lung cancer.
- Over 5,000 Asbestos-related disease deaths per year currently, including mesothelioma, lung cancer and asbestosis
- 2369 Mesothelioma deaths, with a similar number of lung cancer deaths linked to past exposures to asbestos
- 490 Deaths mentioning asbestosis on the death certificate
Other Conditions
There is some evidence to suggest that asbestos can also cause laryngeal cancer and may be implicated in causing pharyngeal, stomach and colorectal cancer…and conceivably a wide range of others. Asbestos: Effects on health of exposure to asbestos. Richard Doll and Julian Peto. HSE.1985.pdf
All types of asbestos cause lung cancer, mesothelioma, cancer of the larynx and ovary, and asbestosis. World Health Organisation. www.who
Across Europe 10 asbestos-related cancers are recognised; in the UK only two, lung cancer and mesothelioma, are prescribed. And it seems IIAC is content to see workers with eight of the 10 asbestos related cancers continue to miss out. http://www.hazards.org
The UK Government advisory body the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council (IIAC) has not recommended that the UK Government add those ‘other’ conditions to the list of prescribed diseases for the purposes of claiming Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit & State (government) Compensation.
Contains public sector information published by the Health and Safety Executive and licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Last updated March 2022.
