Document Rp21KZGKepM51M0B1RYoKOLV

i 4 l* :Ji>A(Mc. nr*7 t; 54 Asbestos Suspected Lung Cancer Cause By ALTON BLAKESLEE Asbestos is used not only for York, and E. Cuyler Hammond, tion of asbestos-containing ma AT Science Writer insulation but as a flooring ma Sc.D,, director of statistical terials, or possibly from dust terial, in automobile brake research for the American Can raised through, normal wear, NEW YORK (AF) -- Medical shoes,- and in many other appli cer Society. Dr. Hammond is they- said. specialists pointed a strong finger of suspicion today at asbestos as a cause not only of lung cancer but also of another extremely rare form of fatal human cancer. cations. Ordinary wear and tear, they said, might release dust into the atmosphere. The report was presented to the American Public Health Association by Drs. Irving J. known for his studies of cigar ette smoking in relationship to lung cancer. Asbestos is a mineral, mag nesium silicate, and about 3^ million tons of it are used "We had previously found that lung cancer and possibly gastrointestinal cancer were markedly increased in incidence among asbestos insulation workers," they said. This cancer, known as meso thelioma, involves the lining of the abdominal and chest cavi ties. Selikoff and Jacob.Churg of the Mount Sinai . Hospital, New worldwide each year, they said. In 1935, Worldwide usage amounted to about 500 tons, the researchers said. No\v they also find a marked ly high increase among such workers of mesothelioma, a cancer so rare it is not classed Much of the specialists' evi Tiny, hard particles of asbes separately as a cause of death dence comas from autopsy stud tos can lodge in the lungs during in the international classifica ios of men working with asbes mining, processing and applica tion of diseases. tos as an insulation material. They said it also is possible that dust from products contain ing asbestos might subject people generally to some risk of cancers. How much risk there might be, they said, they could not tell. HWBUI0012688