Toxic blue asbestos found in lungs of 2 patients
The Yomiuri Shimbun
Highly toxic blue asbestos has been found in the lungs of two patients suffering from mesothelioma--which is allegedly caused by the material--who lived near Kubota Corp.'s former Kanzaki plant in Amagasaki, Hyogo Prefecture.
The plant, run by the major machinery manufacturer, used blue asbestos from 1957 to 1975. The two patients lived near the plant during the same period.
The patients claim that the central government should acknowledge that the disease is caused by environmental pollution and pay compensation, saying that the findings have further clarified the relationship between the factory and the disease.
The findings were made by Yuji Natori, a doctor and director of the Mesothelioma--Pneumoconiosis--Asbestos Center in Tokyo, and others who examined the lungs of six patients aged 52 to 66, including those who were deceased. All six of the patients lived near the factory when it used blue asbestos in the manufacture of water pipes.
The researchers found 112 to 677 strands of asbestos per gram in lung tissue samples, much higher than the acceptable average of 35 strands.
Most of the asbestos discovered by the researchers in the lung tissue samples of the two patients was blue asbestos, which is believed to be the most carcinogenic variety. Its production and use were banned in 1995 prior to the banning of chrysotile, another type of asbestos.
(Jul. 20, 2006)
Chrysotile at a turning point – results and scientific perspectives
May 23 – 24, 2006, Fairmont, The Queen Elizabeth Hotel, Montreal, Québec, Canada.
Please note that the Preliminary Agenda of this conference is available. Organized jointly by the Chrysotile Institute and the International Chrysotile Association, this conference will allow us to:
- get an update on recent chrysotile studies;
- learn about new unpublished data;
- shed new light on the situation of different chrysotile-producing and consuming countries
Over a dozen speakers from Russia, USA, Canada, India, Europe and Latin America will present results of their research or provide an overview of the situation in their countries. This conference is intended for researchers, producers, consumers, industry leaders, government agencies, as well as unions and labour representatives.
We urge you to register for the conference and make your hotel room reservations by using our online registration forms as soon as possible.
August 5, 2005. To demonstrate, proof in hand, that chrysotile can be used safely and responsibly, the ICA released the results of studies by teams of leading international specialists several months ago.
August 5, 2005. Based on results obtained in many recent studies, ICA feels that chrysotile is entitled to fair and balanced treatment, as it is known today that safe and responsible use is effective and a reality in many countries of the world.
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