The Human and Financial Burden of Asbestos in the WHO European Region

The WHO European Centre for Environment and Health convened a Meeting in November 2012 of representatives of selected Member States and international experts for cooperative implementation of the Parma commitment regarding asbestos control. The scope of the Meeting was to provide technical support to national representatives for the development of national profiles on asbestos, as agreed during a meeting held in June 2011. The specific aims of the Meeting were to assess the national data available in Member States, which are essential for the preparation of national asbestos profiles according to the outline drawn up by WHO and the International Labour Organization, and to provide technical guidance in estimating the number of deaths, potential life-years lost, disability-adjusted life-years and the economic burden due to asbestos-related diseases (ARDs). An update of asbestos control policies in Member States was presented. 

The Meeting drew conclusions and made recommendations for the development of the national profiles as well as the development and implementation of national programmes for the elimination of ARDs. Useful information for policy-makers in Member States presented at the Meeting by WHO temporary advisers on the methodologies and tools for estimating the number of deaths, potential life-years lost, disability-adjusted life-years and economic burden due to ARDs are attached as annexes to this report.