A recent study has revealed that some countries are undercounting the number of people that die of asbestos-related diseases inside their borders. The authors conclude that the number of people who die from asbestos cancers like mesothelioma worldwide is significantly higher than previously thought.
The study came from researchers at the University of Occupation and Environmental Health in Kitakyushu City, Japan, and was published online in the Environmental Health Perspective. They looked at data from 56 countries that produced or imported asbestos and counted the number of mesothelioma deaths. Another 33 countries supplied info on their asbestos use but had no data regarding the number of mesothelioma deaths.
"Our most important finding is the magnitude of unreported mesothelioma in countries that use asbestos at substantial levels but report no cases of the disease," said the study's co-author Ken Takahashi, MD.
The study concludes that nearly 15-20% of all mesothelioma cases go unreported. Authors also estimated that Russia, Kazakhstan, China, India, and Thailand would have the highest 15-year mesothelioma mortality rate because of their asbestos use in the years after the mineral's dangers came to light in developed countries.
If you or a loved one has been exposed to asbestos by using certain products or working for certain companies and have subsequently been diagnosed with mesothelioma, there may be legal options worth pursuing to obtain a mesothelioma settlement.
Contact a mesothelioma lawyer if you have any questions about the details of asbestos law and what is needed to pursue a settlement.
