text: Even in the**short period between 2013 and 2018**(the period covered by these pilot statistics) the data 
  show an overall decline and a decline of several relevant occupational diseases. The strongest decrease 
  — practically a halving — can be seen for hearing impairments (diseases of the inner ear). 
  Pneumoconiosis, mesothelioma and selected occupational cancers went down between 7% and 14%. 
  **Asthma and some recognised MSDs**are more or less stagnating, probably due to unchanged 
  exposure to biological or chemical substances and no change regarding the health outcomes of 
  ergonomic working conditions. 
  
  If work is**one of some**causative factors, a clear assignment of work to a health outcome is complex. 
  Moreover, in many cases a quite**long observation period**is necessary simply due to the**latency time**
  **between exposure at work, outbreak and detection of a disease**, which is obviously very different 
  from the clear and immediate consequence of an accident at work. 
  
  The detection of a disease and the correlation between work and this disease depends highly on the 
  **monitoring capacities of the health system and its ability, tradition and standards to connect**
  **diseases and work-related causes**. In a study on ‘Asbestos 
  related occupational diseases in Central 
  and East European Countries’ the authors refer to different policies for identifying workers formerly 
  exposed to asbestos and conclude: 