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HIGHLIGHTS from the Work-Related Lung Disease Surveillance Report, 2002

The following paragraphs highlight selected findings based on data from the United States presented in the 2002 and previous WoRLD Surveillance Reports. Click on the following disease categories to go to the corresponding section.

 
Asbestosis Asthma
Coal Workers' Pneumoconiosis (CWP) Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
Silicosis Respiratory Conditions due to Toxic Agents
Byssinosis Respiratory Tuberculosis
Unspecified/Other Pneumoconioses Lung Cancer
All Pneumoconioses Other Interstitial Pulmonary Diseases
Malignant Mesothelioma Various Work-Related Respiratory Conditions
Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis (HP) Smoking Prevalence by Occupation and Industry
 

Malignant Mesothelioma

There were nearly 2,500 malignant mesothelioma deaths among U.S. residents age 15 and over in 1999.

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Table 7-1. Malignant mesothelioma: Number of deaths by sex, race, and age, and median age at death, U.S. residents age 15 and over, 1999


Mesothelioma was designated as the underlying cause of death in nearly 95% of all malignant mesothelioma deaths in 1999.

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Table 7-1. Malignant mesothelioma: Number of deaths by sex, race, and age, and median age at death, U.S. residents age 15 and over, 1999


Nearly 20% of mesothelioma decedents were female.

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Table 7-1. Malignant mesothelioma: Number of deaths by sex, race, and age, and median age at death, U.S. residents age 15 and over, 1999


For 1999, more than one-third of mesothelioma decedents were residents of just five states (California, Florida, Pennsylvania, New York and Ohio).

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Table 7-4. Malignant mesothelioma: Number of deaths, mortality rates (per million population), and years of potential life lost (YPLL) by state, U.S. residents age 15 and over, 1999


For 1999, seven counties (two in Virginia, and one each in Ohio, Maine, New Jersey, Mississippi, and Michigan) had age-adjusted malignant mesothelioma mortality rates that exceeded the national rate by more than 5-fold.

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Table 7-9. Malignant mesothelioma: Counties with highest age-adjusted mortality rates (per million population), U.S. residents age 15 and over, 1999


Based occupation and industry information was available, the construction industry accounted for nearly 15% of decedents with malignant mesothelioma in 1999.

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Table 7-5. Malignant mesothelioma: Most frequently recorded industries on death certificate, U.S. residents age 15 and over, selected states, 1999


In addition to the construction industry, other industries associated with significantly increased mesothelioma mortality in 1999 include: ship and boat building and repairing; industrial and miscellaneous chemicals; petroleum refining; and electric light and power.

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Table 7-7. Malignant mesothelioma: Proportionate mortality ratio (PMR) adjusted for age, sex, and race by usual industry, U.S. residents age 15 and over, selected states, 1999


Occupations associated with significantly elevated mesothelioma mortality in 1999 include: plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters; mechanical engineers; electricians; and elementary school teachers.

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Table 7-8. Malignant mesothelioma: Proportionate mortality ratio (PMR) adjusted for age, sex, and race by usual occupation, U.S. residents age 15 and over, selected states, 1999



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