New pneumoconiosis cases decrease in 2013

China reported 23,152 new pneumoconiosis cases throughout the country in 2013, accounting for nearly 90 percent of the country's occupational diseases, China News Service reported.

The number of new pneumoconiosis cases was 1,054 less than recorded in 2012, thanks to government efforts to prevent and treat occupational diseases, according to statistics released by the National Health and Family Planning Commission on its official website.

The country's coal mining industry diagnosed 15,087 pneumoconiosis patients last year, leading the mainland in the number of new pneumoconiosis patients.

It was followed by the nonferrous metals industry with 2,399 patients, the machinery sector (983) and construction (948).