Why Is This Important?

Pneumoconiosis is a class of lung diseases which are usually incurable and may lead to death. Nearly all pneumoconioses are attributable to occupational exposure, and millions of workers are at risk. Common types include asbestosis, coal workers' pneumoconiosis, and silicosis. Pneumoconiosis frequency varies geographically, largely determined by local industrial activities and migration of affected individuals.

Definition

Deaths with pneumoconiosis, coal workers' pneumoconiosis, asbestosis, silicosis, and other and unspecified pneumoconiosis as the underlying or contributing cause of death. ICD-10 codes: J60-J66

Data Sources

• Death Certificate Database, Office of Vital Statistics and Registry, New Jersey Department of Health
  (https://www.nj.gov/health/vital/)
• Population Estimates, State Data Center, New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development
  (https://www.nj.gov/labor/labormarketinformation/demographics/population-household-estimates/)
• Multiple Cause of Death, CDC WONDER Online Database, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
  (https://wonder.cdc.gov/mcd.html)

How the Measure is Calculated

How Are We Doing?

In NJ, asbestosis resulted in the greatest number of deaths from pneumoconiosis, over 1,200 between 2000 and 2020. In NJ, asbestosis annual, age-standardized mortality rates between 2000 and 2022 ranged from 4.4 to 13.8 deaths per million residents. Rates of asbestosis in NJ may be higher than national rates due to the production of asbestos products and use of asbestos, especially in New Jersey's many shipyards. Several NJ studies have documented excess mesothelioma among New Jersey workers in industries with asbestos exposure, including New Jersey's most well-known asbestos products manufacturer, the Manville Corporation in Somerset County. The NJDOH has estimated that as many as 500,000 New Jersey workers may have been exposed to asbestos since 1940. Silicosis and coal workers' pneumoconiosis each resulted in less than 5 deaths per year between 2000 and 2022, therefore rates could not be accurately calculated.

What Is Being Done?

New Jersey law requires the reporting of the most common pneumoconioses, including those that are coded as unspecified, by hospitals and health care providers (NJAC 8:58). Control of occupational dust exposure is the single most effective means of preventing pneumoconiosis. Tracking of pneumoconiosis is essential for tracking progress towards elimination of the disease, as well as for targeting prevention and disease management programs. Because of the serious health effects that exposure to asbestos can cause, the handling of asbestos-containing materials is regulated in New Jersey. In New Jersey all asbestos abatement work must be conducted by a NJ Department of Labor and Workforce Development (DOLWD) licensed asbestos abatement contractor. All of the contractor's employees who conduct asbestos abatement must have a valid NJ DOLWD supervisor or worker permit. All licensed contractors are required to submit notice to designated agencies of any asbestos abatement covered by NJAC 8:60 and NJAC 5:16 at least 10 days in advance of the beginning of the work. All schools are required to maintain asbestos management plans for each of their buildings. These plans are required to include the type and location of any asbestos in the building, regular updates on the condition of the asbestos and, if applicable, when it was abated (removed).

Available Services

Additional information on the prevention of occupational illnesses and injuries can be obtained from the NJ Department of Health's Occupational Health Surveillance Unit [http://www.state.nj.us/health/workplacehealthandsafety/occupational-health-surveillance/].

Health Program Information

Asbestos is regulated by the NJ Departments of Health, Labor & Workforce Development, Community Affairs, and Environmental Protection as follows: Environmental and Occupational Health Assessment Program is the agency for asbestos and environmental health information; provides training and accreditation for asbestos training providers; conducts studies to evaluate asbestos abatement and management methods; and administers the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA) and the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP), on behalf of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA). Phone: (609) 826-4950 Fax: (609) 826-4975 [http://www.state.nj.us/health/ceohs/asbestos] Public Employees Occupational Safety and Health (PEOSH) enforces the occupational health regulations for public employees who work with asbestos-containing materials in general industry (General Industry Asbestos Standard, 29 CFR 1910.1001) and employees who work with asbestos-containing building materials during construction (Construction Asbestos Standard, 29 CFR 1926.1101). Phone: (609) 984-1863 Fax: (609) 984-2779 [http://www.state.nj.us/health/workplacehealthandsafety/peosh/] NJ Department of Labor and Workforce Development (NJDLWD) Asbestos Control and Licensing licenses asbestos abatement contractors and issues performance permit identification cards to abatement workers and supervisors employed by those contractors; enforces the NJ Asbestos Control and Licensing Act (N.J.S.A. 34:5A-32 et seq.) by conducting inspections involving the abatement of friable and non-friable asbestos containing materials in all private, public, commercial and residential buildings in New Jersey, including those asbestos projects performed in schools and public buildings under the Asbestos Hazard Abatement Sub-Code; and investigates illegal or improper abatements in any type of building, and routinely inspects the work of licensed contractors and their employees. Phone: (609) 633-0664 Fax: (609) 633-0664 [https://www.nj.gov/labor/safetyandhealth/programs-services/asbestos/] NJ Department of Community Affairs (NJDCA) -- Asbestosis/Lead Unit certifies asbestos safety technicians and authorizes asbestos safety control monitoring firms; enforces the provisions of the Asbestos Hazard Abatement Sub-Code (N.J.A.C. 5:23-8) which pertains to educational facilities, public buildings, daycare centers and nurseries; provides information and interpretation of the code on methods of asbestos remediation for projects under the jurisdiction of N.J.A.C. 5:23-8; investigates complaints and routinely inspects the work of monitors; issues asbestos permits for state-owned facilities; and issues variations to N.J.A.C. 5:23-8. Phone: (609) 633-6224 Fax: (609) 633-1040 [https://www.nj.gov/dca/codes/offices/asbestos.shtml] NJ Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) regulates the transportation and disposal of asbestos-containing materials and investigates reports of unregistered transporters and illegal disposal in concert with county health departments. Phone: (609) 633-1418 Fax: (609) 633-1112 [http://www.nj.gov/dep/dshw/rrtp/asbestos.htm]