Substantial asbestos production became increasingly prevalent at the turn of the 20th century. As asbestos became more commonly used in occupational settings, reports of disease in asbestos workers began to climb as well. Several studies have considered the incidence of mesothelioma, asbestosis and other related illnesses in conjunction with the introduction of asbestos in the workplace. The results indicated that these illnesses were extremely rare prior to the widespread use of asbestos.
While the fiber had been used for various commercial purposes since the 1700s, its popularity in the industrial sector began to rise in the early 1900s. By the 1950s, more than 900,000 tons of asbestos was mined each year in Canada alone. Global production was increasing to meet commercial demands, and by 2000, total worldwide asbestos production had exceeded 2.1 million tons.
Since its incorporation into commercial products, asbestos has been responsible for an increasing number of health complications. Sporadic cases of mesothelioma were reported as early as the 1800s, but the idea of pleural tumors was not immediately accepted. As diagnoses rose considerably over the following years, pathologists began regarding mesothelioma as a distinct disease.
Studies consistently revealed that most mesothelioma patients had been exposed to asbestos, and occupational exposure accounted for the highest percentage of diagnoses. Mortality rates were also highest in industrial workers. One British study showed mesothelioma accounted for more than 10 percent of all deaths in asbestos insulation workers.
Another British study tracked malignant mesothelioma mortality rates in Great Britain between 1968 and 2001. Almost 200 deaths were reported in the first year of the study. The number steadily climbed over the following 33 years, and in 2001, more than 1,800 deaths from mesothelioma were reported. Interestingly, asbestos imports to the U.K. peaked in the early 1960s and the workers who handled the mineral during this time may just now be noting health complications from past exposure.
While research has shown that mesothelioma rates rose proportionally with the popularity of asbestos in commercial industries, studies have also been conducted to explore the incidence before the mineral was widely used. A retrospective study examined autopsies from people who had passed away prior to industrial exploitation of asbestos.
This 2011 report reviewed a series of 2,025 autopsies from Mount Sinai Hospital between 1883 and 1910 and found no cases of mesothelioma among the subjects. These results support the theory that mesothelioma rarely occurs in the absence of asbestos exposure.
While projections for future mesothelioma mortality vary, most predictions agree that asbestos-related deaths will decrease significantly in the future. This is often attributed to the restrictions on industrial asbestos use. Worldwide asbestos bans would be necessary, however, to completely eliminate the risk of exposure and related diseases.
Additional information about mesothelioma may be found through the mesothelioma Center.