Asbestosis and Malignant Mesothelioma Mortality in the United States: An update

Asbestosis and malignant mesothelioma (MM) are preventable respiratory diseases caused by asbestos exposure with a latency period for up to 40 years between exposure and disease presentation. Asbestos is still being imported and used (869 metric tons in 2009) in the United States. Available data show that among U.S. residents aged ≥ 15, asbestosis age-adjusted death rate was highest in 2000 (6.9 per million population) and MM death rate in 1999 (11.7). To describe recent trends in asbestosis and MM death rates, we identified death certificates with any mention of asbestosis or MM from the 1999¨C2007 U.S. National Center for Health Statistics multiple cause-of-death records. Death rates per million population were age-adjusted to the 2000 U.S. standard population. Trends in death rates were analyzed using the Poisson regression. During 1999¨C2007, 12,794 asbestosis deaths were reported; median age of decedents was 78 years; 12,325 (96%) were males, and 12,022 (94%) were white. The overall age-adjusted asbestosis death rate was 6.2 per million population; the rate decreased from 6.9 in 2000 to 5.8 in 2007 (p<0.001). During 1999¨C2007, 23,278 MM deaths were reported; median age of decedents was 74 years, 18,756 (81%) were males, and 22,098 (95%) were white. The overall age-adjusted MM death rate was 11.3 per million population; the rate decreased from 11.7 in 1999 to 10.7 in 2007 (p<0.001). These results indicate that both asbestosis and MM death rates have started to decline. Surveillance of asbestosis and MM deaths should continue to confirm these trends.