A victory for patients. According to a decree published on Sunday 15 October in the Official Journal, ovarian cancer, caused by inhalation of asbestos dust, is now recognized as an occupational disease. This will enable those affected” benefit from better possibilities for compensation and support “. The same goes for laryngeal cancer.
Asbestos, the leading cause of occupational cancers
A year earlier, an investigation by the National Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health Safety (ANSES) had found that cancers of the larynx and ovary are “Underreported and underrecognized”when they are linked to occupational exposure to asbestos.
However, this link has been recognized for several years by various organizations, such as the Institute of Health Surveillance – predecessor of Public Health France – and, abroad, the International Cancer Research Center (IARC), which depends on the United Nations ( UN).
Asbestos is the second cause of occupational diseases and the main cause of occupational cancers. According to health authorities, inhalation of asbestos could cause, in France, between 68,000 and 100,000 deaths from respiratory cancer in the period 2009-2050.
Although the use of asbestos has been banned since 1997 in France and 2005 in the EU, asbestos fibers are still found in millions of buildings and infrastructure. The latter are responsible for the deaths of 70,000 people every year in Europe and 78% of occupational cancers recognized in the Member States of the European Union are linked to exposure to asbestos.
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Source: Madmoizelle
Mary Crossley is an author at “The Fashion Vibes”. She is a seasoned journalist who is dedicated to delivering the latest news to her readers. With a keen sense of what’s important, Mary covers a wide range of topics, from politics to lifestyle and everything in between.
