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Asbestos: Ovarian Cancer

Asked by Charlotte NicholsLabourDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled Answered 8 July 2025UIN 63591

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 27 June 2025 to Question 61211 on Asbestos: Ovarian Cancer, if she will direct the Health and Safety Executive to collect data on asbestos-related ovarian cancer cases.

Answered by Sir Stephen Timms

Collecting data on individual cases of asbestos-related ovarian cancer is not feasible due to difficulties attributing them to historic exposure with confidence. Significant resource would be needed to produce estimates based on epidemiological evidence. These are likely to be small in comparison to other asbestos-related diseases such as mesothelioma (which is more clearly linked to past exposure) and would have considerable associated uncertainty.

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