A decree, published in the Official Journal, included laryngeal and ovarian cancers linked to the inhalation of asbestos dust in the table of diseases of occupational origin.
- The use of asbestos has been banned in France since 1997.
- Laryngeal and ovarian cancers linked to exposure to asbestos are now recognized as occupational diseases.
- The request for recognition of the disease as a pathology of occupational origin is made after the health insurance fund.
Widely used in the building and public works sectors, asbestos was classified as carcinogenic in 1977 by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). In France, its use was banned in 1997. “However, many materials containing asbestos are still in place today and constitute sources of exposure for professionals and the general population”alerted the National Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health Safety (ANSES).
A recognition that opens the way to “better possibilities for compensation and support”
Serious pathologies can therefore occur years after exposure to this mineral. In a decree published on October 15 in the Official Journallaryngeal and ovarian cancers, caused “following inhalation of asbestos dust”, have been recognized as occupational diseases. This advance now allows eligible workers to obtain “better possibilities for compensation and support”. They can request recognition of their illness as an illness of occupational origin from their health insurance fund.
The recognition of these two pathologies as occupational diseases results from work carried out by the specialized commission for occupational pathologies of the Working Conditions Orientation Council (COCT) and ANSES.
Ovarian and laryngeal cancer: “under-reported and under-recognized” pathologies
In September 2022, ANSES notably warned that ovarian and laryngeal cancers linked to occupational exposure to asbestos were “under-reported and under-recognized”. “According to data provided by the National Health Insurance Fund, only 130 requests for recognition of laryngeal cancer as an occupational disease associated with exposure to asbestos were examined between 2010 and 2020. During this same period, six applications for recognition of ovarian cancers have been filed”we can read in the conclusions of the study carried out by the health authority.
