The dots on this map represent individuals (each dot = one person) who have died from two signature asbestos diseases, mesothelioma and asbestosis, as confirmed by death certificate records. The map does not include lung cancer deaths or asbestos mortality from gastrointestinal (GI) cancer. If the number of deaths are corrected to include lung and gastrointestinal cancer and more accurate estimates of mesothelioma incidence, nationwide, the total mortality from asbestos from 1979 through 2001 would be about 230,000 people
