Document O1XQqVnaJy3MGBNenm2LLjN1Q

FILE NAME Newspaper & Magazine Articles NMA DATE 1978 Dec 4 DOC NMA129 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION Kansas City Star - Officials Accused of Playing Politics With Asbestos ote es ~~ | Officials Accused of Playing Politics In April U.S. Secretary of Health all cases of cancer according to the is playing the numbers game for polit~-- At least one scientist involved in the i Education and Welfare Joseph Califa- NCI report can be traced to exposure cal advantage NCI study reportedly has backed down no somberly announced that more to asbestos For years industry sources have a little saying the September report than 5.6 million Americans would die These alarming figures were re- been contending that somewhere was only a working draft and not we of me as a direct result their exposure to leased at a politically advantageous between 1 and 5 percent of all cancers the final word on the subject ~ asbestos fibers moment a national AFL are caused in the workplace Scientists In September Califano said the re- health and safety meeting in Washing- for the American Cancer Society have Califano's assertion that 17 percent et sults of a recent study by the National placed the level between 5 and 15 per- of all cancers can be traced to asbestos ton Cancer Institute showed that betweem cent exposure also drew enticism from eL 21 and 33 percent of all cancer is Though there is almost no doubt that A few scientists and industry offi- some scientists least one of whom et caused by exposure to carcinogens in a strong link exists between cancer cials have charged that this sudden presented evidence to Congress that the workplace emo that Califano also said 17 percent of and exposure to asbestos fibers there jump to as high as 38 percent is totally is some concern that the government unwarranted the figure is closer to 1 percent It is estimated that 365,000 Ameri- i + : Monday Decem4be19r78 THE KANSAS CITY STAR 5 With AsbestosAsbestos cans will die of cancer this year If Califano's 17 percent figure is right it would mean that 62,050 of them would have died because of exposure to as- is bestos If the 1 percent figure the number would be 3,650 right Either way a lot of people are ir volved But both figures can't be night scientists contend govern ment officials should not alarm the puble until they're sure what they're talking about ot BMA 02767