Mesothelioma reported as most common occupational cancer in EU after lung tumours

Mesothelioma is connected to asbestos exposure, and its symptoms typically don’t appear until decades after exposure.

Transcript

00:00Asbestos-related cancers remain a major issue in the EU.

00:11Asbestos was once widely used in the construction of floors, ceilings and roofs, until it was banned by the EU in 2005.

00:23Exposure to this mineral can cause a cancer known as mesothelioma, which is classified primarily as an occupational cancer.

00:33Its symptoms typically don't appear until decades after exposure.

00:39In 2021 there were over 1,400 new cases of mesothelioma diagnosed, accounting for 43% of all occupational cancers.

00:52The yearly rate of mesothelioma diagnosis remained quite stable between 2013 and 2021, with a peak of 1,623 cases in 2013.

01:07Between 2013 and 2021 it was the second most common type of occupational tumour after lung cancer.

01:16Italy reported the highest number of preventable mesothelioma deaths in 2021, 518, followed by Germany and France.