Significant risk of developing asbestos-related diseases in Japan's industries: An analysis of workers' compensation

Leli Hesti Indriyati; Masamitsu Eitoku; Naw Awn J-P; Taro Tamura; Narufumi Suganuma; Leli Hesti Indriyati; Masamitsu Eitoku; Naw Awn J-P; Taro Tamura; Narufumi Suganuma

doi:10.3934/publichealth.2025053

AIMS Public Health

2025, Volume 12, Issue 4: 1055-1068. doi: 10.3934/publichealth.2025053

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Research article Special Issues

Significant risk of developing asbestos-related diseases in Japan's industries: An analysis of workers' compensation

1.
Department of Environmental Medicine, Kochi Medical School, Kochi University, Kochi, Japan
2.
Department of Occupational Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Muhammadiyah Prof. Dr. Hamka, Jakarta, Indonesia
3.
Izumino Hospital Medical Corporation Bouchikai, Kochi, Japan

Received: 29 July 2025 Revised: 19 September 2025 Accepted: 23 September 2025 Published: 04 November 2025

Background
Asbestos has been used in various industries, and prolonged exposure can increase the risk of asbestos-related disease (ARD). Although the use of asbestos has been prohibited in Japan since 2012, it was imported well into the 2000s. This study aimed to identify industries in Japan whose workers are at heightened risk of developing ARD.
Methods
This study was based on a comprehensive analysis of fiscal year data from the Survey of Claims and Decisions on Benefits for Asbestos-Related Health Damage and calendar year data from the Status of Pneumoconiosis Health Management Implementation in Japan. Occupations associated with asbestos exposure risk were identified using the Japan Standard Industrial Classification (Rev. 14, 2023). The incidence rate ratio (IRR) was estimated using Poisson regression analysis.
Results
This study includes 8,971,500 person-years from 2006 to 2022. Construction workers showed the strongest positive associations with all ARDs. Within the manufacturing sector, shipyard workers were particularly vulnerable to ARDs, although a notable exception to this was the positive correlation with asbestosis among workers in the ceramic industry (IRR 1.56; 95% CI 1.12–2.17). Mesothelioma is the most prevalent ARD over the past 17 years.
Conclusions
This study suggests that, despite asbestos being banned in Japan for the past 13 years, cases of ARDs continue to occur in various industries, with construction and shipyard workers being at highest risk. Consequently, individuals with prior asbestos exposure require continuous monitoring to avoid potential adverse health consequences.
- asbestos,
- asbestos-related disease (ARD),
- mesothelioma,
- Japan,
- workers
Citation: Leli Hesti Indriyati, Masamitsu Eitoku, Naw Awn J-P, Taro Tamura, Narufumi Suganuma. Significant risk of developing asbestos-related diseases in Japan's industries: An analysis of workers' compensation[J]. AIMS Public Health, 2025, 12(4): 1055-1068. doi: 10.3934/publichealth.2025053

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Abstract

Background

Asbestos has been used in various industries, and prolonged exposure can increase the risk of asbestos-related disease (ARD). Although the use of asbestos has been prohibited in Japan since 2012, it was imported well into the 2000s. This study aimed to identify industries in Japan whose workers are at heightened risk of developing ARD.

Methods

This study was based on a comprehensive analysis of fiscal year data from the Survey of Claims and Decisions on Benefits for Asbestos-Related Health Damage and calendar year data from the Status of Pneumoconiosis Health Management Implementation in Japan. Occupations associated with asbestos exposure risk were identified using the Japan Standard Industrial Classification (Rev. 14, 2023). The incidence rate ratio (IRR) was estimated using Poisson regression analysis.

Results

This study includes 8,971,500 person-years from 2006 to 2022. Construction workers showed the strongest positive associations with all ARDs. Within the manufacturing sector, shipyard workers were particularly vulnerable to ARDs, although a notable exception to this was the positive correlation with asbestosis among workers in the ceramic industry (IRR 1.56; 95% CI 1.12–2.17). Mesothelioma is the most prevalent ARD over the past 17 years.

Conclusions

This study suggests that, despite asbestos being banned in Japan for the past 13 years, cases of ARDs continue to occur in various industries, with construction and shipyard workers being at highest risk. Consequently, individuals with prior asbestos exposure require continuous monitoring to avoid potential adverse health consequences.

Abbreviations

ARD

Asbestos-related disease

ARDs

Asbestos-related diseases

BAPE

Benign asbestos pleural effusion

Confidence intervals

DPT

Diffuse pleural thickening

Incidence rate

IRR

Incidence rate ratio

IMO

International Maritime Organization

JSIC

Japan Standard Industrial Classification

SOLAS

Safety of Life at Sea

Acknowledgments

We recognize the exceptional contributions of Obour Aikins Bridgette for data entry.
The Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare of Japan provided financial assistance for this work through the Research of Industrial Disease Clinical Research Grants (230101–01).

Authors' contributions

LHI analysed the data, prepared the figures/ tables, and drafted the manuscript. ME, NA JP, TT and NS collaborated to edit and revised the manuscript. All authors completed a review process and approved the final version of the work.

Conflicts of interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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