Italy has the highest number of
deaths in the EU from mesothelioma, a type of cancer linked to
exposure to asbestos, according to 2021 figures issued by
Eurostat Thursday.
In 2021, the EU recorded 2,380 preventable deaths from
mesothelioma, which develops in the thin layer of tissue that
covers many of the internal organs, known as the mesothelium.
Symptoms of mesothelioma tend to develop gradually over time.
They typically do not appear until several decades after
exposure to asbestos. The number of deaths has been steadily
decreasing since 2013, when it stood at 3,341 (-961 deaths).
At a national level, Italy recorded the highest number of deaths
from mesothelioma (518), followed by Germany (400) and France
(329).
The lowest numbers were in Cyprus and Estonia (2).
Italy has seen a number of court cases over asbestos-related
factory worker deaths in recent years.
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