HC Deb 13 June 2003 vol 406 cc353-4W
Mr. John Robertson

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people in the UK died from cancers caused by exposure to asbestos for each year since 1998. [114832]

Mr. Nicholas Brown

I have been asked to reply.

In the three years 1998 to 2000 (the most recent year for which data are available), there were 1541, 1613 and 1628 deaths from the cancer mesothelioma in Great Britain. Mesothelioma is almost always caused by asbestos exposure. A further 1500 to 3000 lung cancer deaths per year are estimated also to be attributable to asbestos, but these cannot be individually distinguished from lung cancers due to other causes such as smoking.

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