Asbestos: laryngeal and ovarian cancers recognized as occupational diseases - In the news

2023-10-16 15:08:21

October 16, 2023

The decree recognizing ovarian and laryngeal cancers linked to occupational exposure to asbestos was published in the Official Journal and takes effect this Monday, October 16.

Laryngeal and ovarian cancers, caused by the inhalation of asbestos dust, have just been recognized as occupational diseases. The decree was published in the Official Journal on Sunday and takes effect this Monday, October 16. “The text creates the table of occupational diseases no. 30 ter relating to cancers of the larynx and ovary caused by the inhalation of asbestos dust. It determines the conditions of coverage for occupational illnesses, as well as the list of work likely to cause these pathologies. it is specified.

Objective: to facilitate compensation and support by Social Security for eligible people. According to the decree, the coverage period is set at 35 years, subject to an exposure period of 5 years. Before the decree, only branchopulmonary cancers and cancers of the pleura were the subject of a table of occupational diseases linked to exposure to asbestos.

A causality recognized by the Circ in 2012

As early as 2012, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) considered as proven the link between laryngeal and ovarian cancers and exposure to asbestos – fibrous varieties of certain minerals used in industry. In France, the National Health Safety Agency (ANSES) was contacted by the public authorities in order to provide scientific expertise to enable the creation of occupational disease tables for ovarian and laryngeal cancers. In her report published on September 19, 2022, she estimated that “these cancers linked to occupational exposure to asbestos are under-reported and under-recognized ».

« When we interviewed health professionals as part of this expertise, we realized that despite its recognition by the IARC for ten years, the link between laryngeal and ovarian cancers and exposure to asbestos was very not very well-known. As asbestos is commonly associated with lung and pleural cancers, neither doctors nor patients make the link with other cancers », explained Alexandra Papadopoulos, project manager in the Air Risk Assessment unit and coordinator of the expertise. ANSES, providing the same conclusions as the Circ, recommended the creation of a table of occupational diseases and the recognition of these cancers as occupational diseases.

Other cancers affected

Construction sector, waste disposal, transport, agricultural sector are all sectors in which workers were exposed to asbestos, banned in 1997. In addition certain activities are carried out in a contaminated environment, in the health sectors, administration and teaching in particular.

In addition to these cancers, asbestos is responsible for several pathologies of the lungs and pleura. It could be responsible for colorectal cancers, pharyngeal cancers and stomach cancers. According to a report from the High Council of Public Health published in 2014, by 2050, the number of deaths from lung cancer due to asbestos would be 50,000 to 75,000, to which should be added 18,000 to 25,000. death from mesothelioma (cancer of the pleura). An underestimated figure since it did not include laryngeal and ovarian cancers.

Source : Asbestos: a subject that is still relevant, February 7, 2023, Anses – Ovarian and laryngeal cancers linked to exposure to asbestos: towards better recognition, September 19, 2022, Anses – Decree No. 2023- 946 of October 14, 2023 revising and supplementing the tables of occupational diseases annexed to Book IV of the Social Security Code
Written by : Dorothée Duchemin – Edited by Vincent Roche