The Sendai Labor Standards Inspection Office has officially recognized the case of a former cosmetics saleswoman from Miyagi Prefecture, who passed away from malignant pleural mesothelioma, as a work-related injury. This decision follows evidence that she may have been exposed to asbestos found in talc, a key ingredient in some cosmetics. The woman worked in the cosmetics industry from March 1974 to June 1977, where she interacted with customers and provided makeup services. Her health declined significantly, and by April 2024, she was diagnosed with mesothelioma, a disease primarily caused by asbestos exposure, shortly before her death in October 2024.