• Japan
• carcinogenicity
• silica
• silicosis

In the opinion of this writer, the recent action by the Japanese government amending relevant laws designating lung cancer as a compensatable complication of pneumoconiosis is a big step towards improvement. Pneumoconiosis victims who develop lung cancer will be compensated under the national compensation plan. In Japan, there are currently an estimated 12 000+ pneumoconiotics officially recognised as “administrative level (AL) 2.3 or 4 (1 stands for ‘no pneumoconiosis’)” who would be potential beneficiaries. Prior to the amendment, compensation was restricted to lung cancer cases complicating pneumoconiosis of only AL 4 (and very recently AL 3), limiting the number of compensated cases to less than 30 per year. With the inclusion of lung cancer as one of the six designated complications of pneumoconiosis, compensation coverage is extended to essentially all pneumoconiotics (AL 2 or higher), with entitlement to additional benefits, for example, surviving family members’ pension, if a pneumoconiotic develops lung cancer and dies of it. The amendment therefore came as a blessing to pneumoconiotic victims and families, and was welcomed by the media.¹ Despite the positive implications, however, …