Mesothelioma in Australia
About 8,000 Australians currently suffer from mesothelioma and the number is predicted to rise dramatically. Here are the facts:
* For centuries, asbestos was used. And for decades, its effects were simply ignored. Doctors related some deaths to the exposure to asbestos, but it took years until the first measures were taken.
* During the Industrial Revolution and the following years, working conditions were highly despised. By that time, it didn't matter what conditions people worked under, but how fast and efficiently they could do their job. This situation only contributed to the increase in the number of people who had respiratory problems.
* Australia has maintained a total national malignant mesothelioma case register since 1980.
* Even with the preventative measures assured by laws, the number of deaths related to the exposure to asbestos has increased.
* There has been a marked increase in the incidence of mesothelioma in the last 20 years. Currently 450-600 cases are notified annually in a population of 20 million.
* Australia had the highest per capita use of asbestos products. Also, they have the highest incidence of mesothelioma per head of population.
* Most mesothelioma cases in Australia are connected to the use of asbestos cement products. The main manufacturer of those products was James Hardie Group.
* Australia's first reported case of mesothelioma was in 1962 at Wittenoom, Western Australia.
* While the history of the Wittenoom (Western Australia) crocidolite mine and its aftermath is well known, these cases comprise only 5% of the total.
* Australia has had 6,329 cases of mesothelioma from 1 January 1945 to 31 December 2000.
* About 20,000 people worldwide are killed every year by mesothelioma. Health experts estimate by 2010, about 40,000 Australians will have died from either mesothelioma or associated lung cancers.
* Annual incidence rates for Australia per million population > = 20 years (1997) were: male, 59.8; female, 10.9; total, 35.4. Incidence rates have been continually increasing and are the highest reported national rates in the world.
* While Western Australia has the highest rate (1997 total rate, 52.8), most cases arise from the two most populous eastern states, New South Wales and Victoria. In 88% (male 90%, female 61%) of cases, a history of asbestos exposure was obtained.
* Exposures occurred in a wide variety of occupational and environmental circumstances. In 80% of cases with no history of exposure, TEM lung asbestos fiber counts > 200,000 fibers > 2 microm length per gm dry lung were obtained, suggesting unrecognized exposure.
CONCLUSIONS: Australia's high incidence of mesothelioma is related to high past asbestos use, of all fiber types, in a wide variety of occupational and environmental settings. The number of cases in total is expected to be about 18,000 by 2020, with about 11,000 yet to appear.