All Forms of Asbestos Cause Mesothelioma, Claims to Contrary Chrysotile Industry Bias
Friday, August 27th, 2010Richard Lemen, retired assistant U.S. Surgeon General, said that scientific evidence has shown that all forms of asbestos including chrysotile are associated with increased risk of lung cancer and mesothelioma, a cancer of the lining of the lung or abdomen.
In a short article in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives, Lemen said there is scientific debate about the potency of mineral fibers of various types and lengths. But the fundamental conclusion is that all forms of asbestos are carcinogenic to humans, Lemen said, citing the most recent 2009 evaluation by the International Agency for Research on Cancer.
Only scientists with asbestos industry bias make claims that chrysotile asbestos has not been conclusively linked to mesothelioma, Lemen said. Chrysotile accounts for nearly all asbestos fibers used today. The asbestos industry and countries that export asbestos such as Canada and Russia have vigorously resisted efforts to ban chrysotile.
The International Agency for Research on Cancer’s first evaluation on asbestos, published in 1977, stated that mesotheliomas of the lung and abdomen have been observed after worker exposure to crocidolite, amosite and chrysotile. The three mineral fibers are commonly known as blue asbestos, brown asbestos and white asbestos respectively.
Since then, Lemen said science has not changed its view that all forms of asbestos, including chrysotile, cause mesothelioma.
