BACKGROUND: Malignant mesothelioma caused by asbestos exposure has a long 
latency period. A ban on asbestos use may not be apparent in decreased incidence 
in the population until after several decades. The aim was to evaluate changes 
in the incidence of malignant mesothelioma, and the possible impact of the 
asbestos ban implemented in Iceland in 1983.
METHODS: This is a population study on aggregate level; the source of data was 
the Icelandic Cancer Registry, the National Cause-of-Death Registry, and the 
National Register. Volume of asbestos import was obtained from Customs Tariff. 
The import figures reflect fairly accurately the amount used, as there are no 
mines in the country.
RESULTS: Asbestos import peaked in 1980 at 15.0 kg/capita/year, diminishing to 
0.3 kg/capita/year ten years after the ban in 1983, and to zero in the most 
recent years. Seventy-nine per cent of the cases of malignant mesothelioma were 
men, and 72 % were of pleural origin. Mesothelioma incidence increased steadily 
from 1965 to 2014, when it reached 21.4 per million among men, and 5.6 among 
women. Mortality in 2014 was 22.2 per million among men, and 4.8 among women.
CONCLUSION: Malignant mesothelioma incidence and mortality increased in the 
population during the period, despite the ban on asbestos use from 1983. This is 
in agreement with the long latency time for malignant mesothelioma. In line with 
the previously high per capita volume of asbestos import, many buildings, 
equipment, and structures contain asbestos, so there is an on-going risk of 
asbestos exposure during maintenance, renovations and replacements. It is thus 
difficult to predict when the incidence of malignant mesothelioma will decrease 
in the future. During the last ten-year period, the incidence in Iceland was 
higher than the recently reported incidence in neighbouring countries.