18 August 2011

Chrysotile Asbestos Fact Sheet:

Scientific and Medical Facts about Chrysotile Asbestos Released by the Environmental Information Association and the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization

Fact 1: Asbestos is a regulated carcinogen.

Fact 2: There are 6 fibrous minerals that are currently regulated as “asbestos:”
chrysotile, amosite, crocidolite, tremolite, actinolite and anthophyllite

Fact 3: Chrysotile is the most common variety of asbestos found in products in the United States.
-  It is the most abundant asbestos variety on earth.

Fact 4: Chrysotile asbestos has been a significant contributor to asbestos-related illness and death to the US and worldwide workforce.

Fact 5: There is sufficient evidence to conclude that ALL FORMS of asbestos, including chrysotile, are carcinogenic and are responsible for asbestos-related lung cancer, mesothelioma, laryngeal and ovarian cancers.

The contributors of the document include:
Michael Breu CIH, Dana Brown, Dr. Ronald Dodson, William Ewin, Joy Finch, Sean Fitzgerald, Dr. Arthur Frank, Steve Hays PE CIH, Dave Hogue, Brent Kynoch, Tom Laubenthal, Dr. Richard Lemen, Dr. James Millette, Linda Reinstein, Andreas Saldivar, and Dr. James Webber.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has confirmed that there is sufficient evidence (IARC Group 1) that all forms of asbestos can cause cancer in humans. 

Special interest groups ranging from chrysotile asbestos producer nations to major industry sectors, are lobbying to have the exposure risk to chrysotile asbestos devalued compared to other asbestos varieties (amphiboles). This has to do with commerce, not defensible science. The USEPA, OSHA, World Health Organization (WHO) and International Labour Organization (ILO) say there is “no known safe level of exposure”…to asbestos…of any type.

Environmental Information Association (EIA)
The Environmental Information Association is a multidisciplinary association that collects, generates and disseminates information concerning environmental health hazards to occupants of buildings, industrial sites and other facilities. For information contact the National Headquarters at www.eia-usa.org.

Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO)
The Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization was founded by asbestos victims and their families in 2004. ADAO seeks to give asbestos victims and concerned citizens a united voice to help ensure that their rights are fairly represented and protected, while raising public awareness about the dangers of asbestos exposure and often deadly asbestos related diseases. ADAO is an independent volunteer organization. For more information visit  www.asbestosdiseaseawareness.org.

Source: Asbestos Disease Awareness Organisation & Environmental Information Association. 28 April 2009

1 comment:

Unknown said...

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