The Swedish experience with asbestos: history of use, diseases, legislation, and compensation

Abstract

After World War II, large quantities of asbestos were imported to Sweden and used in construction and ship building. In 1976, the use of asbestos was for practical purposes prohibited. Today, the only exposures are environmental, from asbestos in place and when buildings are demolished or rebuilt, and there are very strict rules for such work. Consequently, it is assumed that the asbestos-related diseases will gradually disappear from society, but due to the long latency time, about 100 mesotheliomas still occur every year in Sweden, and so far there is no certain sign of a decrease in incidence. Compensation is from the state via general insurance and consists basically of compensation for lost income and medical costs.