Occupational lung disease - latest stats

A recent study found that there are projected to be around 2,500 mesothelioma deaths per year for the rest of the decade before numbers begin to decline.

There were 212 new cases of occupational asthma seen by chest physicians in 2017, similar to the number 10 years ago.

Occupational lung diseases account for around 12,000 of the 13,000 total deaths estimated to be linked to past exposures at work.

Key stats:

• 12,000 lung disease deaths each year estimated to be linked to past exposures at work
• 2,595 mesothelioma deaths in 2016, with a similar number of lung cancer deaths linked to past exposures to asbestos
• 20,000 new cases of breathing or lung problems caused or made worse by work each year on average over the last three years according to self-reported estimates from the Labour Force Survey

Other stats:

Lung diseases contributing to estimated current annual deaths:

• 32% Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
• 22% Non-asbestos related lung cancer
• 20% Mesothelioma
• 20% Asbestos-related lung cancer
• 5% Other disease

Source: HSE

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