Charles Flanagan
Ceist:430 Mr. Flanagan asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of recorded deaths from the cancer mesothelioma within the State over the past five years. [21096/01]
Written Answers. - Cancer Incidence.
The National Cancer Registry collates data on the incidence of and mortality from cancer in this country. I have been informed by the registry that it is not possible to confirm precisely the number of mesothelioma related cancer deaths in Ireland, as this level of morphological detail is not normally recorded on a death certificate. However, what is known is that most cases of mesothelioma occur in the pleura, the serious membranes lining the thorax and the lungs and most tumours arising from the pleura are the result of occupational asbestos exposure. The following is a table with a breakdown of the official number of combined deaths from malignant neoplasm of the pleura (ICD9 163) and asbestosis (ICD9 501) in the State between 1994 and 1998, the latest years for which the most accurate mortality data are available.
|
Year of Death |
Number of Deaths |
|
1994 |
10 |
|
1995 |
7 |
|
1996 |
16 |
|
1997 |
18 |
|
1998 |
19 |
|
1994-1998 |
70 |
Question No. 431 answered with Question No. 406.