Malignant Mesothelioma Mortality on the Rise in U.S. 1999-2015

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) now reports that the number of annual malignant mesothelioma deaths increased in the United States between 1999 and 2015 (click here for CDC report). The past projection indicated that the number of mesothelioma deaths was expected to increase to 3,060 annually by 2001 to 2005. Following 2005, the number of mortalities was expected to decrease. However, contrary to the past projection, the current statistics reveal that the annual number of malignant mesothelioma deaths actually increased 4.8% overall--from 2,479 in 1999 to 2,579 in 2015.

What Went Wrong with the Prior Projection?

The CDC explains that the variance between the past projection and current data might be caused by the methodology of the prior studies which were "based on multiple assumptions including variations in the number of employed workers at risk, exposure levels and timing, and the linear dose-response relationship between asbestos exposure and malignant mesothelioma." The CDC elaborates that additional persons who might have been exposed to asbestos, and subsequently be at risk for malignant mesothelioma, such as, family contacts of asbestos-exposed workers, persons exposed to naturally occurring asbestos and persons exposed to asbestos surfacing materials or fireproofing material in buildings were not considered in the prior analysis.