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8262262 Malignant mesothelioma in Australia – information from the Australian mesothelioma registry

oemed · 2025-10-06 · canonical JSON source

9 visible annotations · policy: published · automated confidence ≥ 75.00%

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Objectives The Australian Mesothelioma Registry (AMR) was established in 2011. It collects information on all new cases of mesothelioma diagnosed in Australia from 1 July 2010. This presentation summarises information received by the AMR to May 2024, focussing on 2023. Exposure to asbestos in Australia significantly diminished from the mid to late 1980s and although asbestos importation and use has been banned since 2003, some exposure still occurs.Methods Most notifications to the AMR come directly from State and Territory cancer registries (new diagnoses of cancer are legally required to be reported to these registries). All notified persons are invited to participate in the AMR’s exposure assessment activity, providing information by questionnaire followed by a structured telephone interview using a computer-based exposure assessment system (OccIDEAS).Results In 2023, 617 people (76% male; median age 77 years) were diagnosed with mesothelioma (with more cases likely to be reported due to a lag in reporting - 775 people were diagnosed in 2022). The overall rate per 100,000 was 2.3, with rates rising to a peak (21.2) in those 85 years and over. The (age-standardised) rate in males (2.9) was much higher than in females (0.8). 1,305 persons diagnosed with mesothelioma from July 2010 to May 2024 provided detailed asbestos exposure information. About 94% of these people were considered to have had possible or probable asbestos exposure above background levels – 11% occupational only; 36% non-occupational only; 53% both. Of these, most men (78%) had occupational exposure; most women (93%) did not. The most common non-occupational exposure was from home renovation.Conclusion The high per capita use of asbestos in Australia has left an unfortunate legacy of continuing high rates of mesothelioma in Australia. Nearly all affected persons appear to have had asbestos exposure.