Document X7pqb7E1L8O62ZerMMYjLYv34
FILE NAME: Newspaper & Magazine Articles (NMA)
DATE: 1964 Oct 6
DOC#: NMA030
DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION: Newspaper Article - The Pontiac Press - Medical Specialists Suspect Asbestos as Cause of Cancer
THE -PONTIAC PRESS. TUE:SPAY. OCTOBER 6, 1904
Suspect Asbestos as
_______
"
t
Medicai Specialists a Cause of Cancer
. By ALTON BLAKESLEE
Much of the specialists' evi
AP Science Writer
dence comes from autopsy stud
NEW YORK -- Medical spe ies of men working with asbes
cialists pointed a strong finger tos as an insulation material.
of suspicion today at asbestos They said it also is possible
as a cause' not only of lung can cer but also of another ex
tremely rare form of fatal
human cancer.
* *
This cancer, known as meso
that dust from products contain ing asbestos might be exposing, people generally to some risk of cancers. How much risk there might be, they said, they could not tell.
thelioma, involves the lining of FLOORING MATERIAL
the abdominal and chest cavi Asbestos is used not only for
ties.
| insulation but as a flooring ma-
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(lerlal, in ' automobile brake terials, or possibly from dust
shoes, and in mtifiy Other appli- raised through normal, wear,
| cations. Ordinary wear and they said.
tear, they said,' might lelease
dust into the atmosphere,
MARKED INCREASE
+ * *
" We had previously
found
The report was presented to the American Public Health Association by Drs. Irving J. Sellkoff and Jacob Churg of the Mount Sinai Hospital, New
that lung cancer and possibly gastrointestinal cancer were markedly increased in incidence among asbestos insulation workers," they said. ' .. ,
York, and K . Cuyler Hammoud, Now they also find a marked
Sc.D., director of statistical ly lugh increase among such
-research for the American Can workers of mesothelioma, a
cer Society. Dr. Hammond is cancer so rare it is not classed
'known for his studies of cigar separately as a cause of death
e tte smoking in relationship to in the international classifica
hmg cancer, * * *
tion of diseases. * '
more than 30,000 autopsies in a 1 source that might incite uiti-
study of the general population i mate cancer.
sponsored by the American Dr. Hammond said one worry i
Cancer Society. ' ' '
| is whether a few cir even a sin-'
HIGH INCIDENCE
gle past exposure might set the
Other studies showed a high incidence not only of lung can cer but mesotheliomas among persons who had asbestos parti cles in their lungs at the lim e of their deaths, they said.
" It would appear that meso thelioma must be added to-the neoplastic (cancer) risks of
stage for cancer. He said this is-
a matter, calling for more re-,
search. *
. + *
: 1 ' ]
Taking precautions to avoid
breathing in asbestos dust is-a
main protection for industrial
workers, be and Dr. Selikotf
said. '
asbestos inhalation and joins
lung cancer (53 Out of 307
deaths) and .probably cancer of
the stomach and colon (34 of ?07
deaths) as a significant compli
cation of such industrial expo
sure, in the United p la tes," their?
report said.' `
;
- The cancers may not appear until 20 to 30 years'after aSbes-` to s dust is inhaled1or swallowed,' they said. Since the particles do not dissolve, they may remain, . in body, tissu e`a s a continuous
Asbestos is a mineral, mag nesium silicate, and about 3 W 'm illion' tons of it are used worldwide each year; they said. In 1935, worldwide u s a g e amounted to about 500 tons, the researchers said.
Tiny, hard particles of asbes tos can lodge in the lungs during Thlntng, processing and applica tion .of asbestos-containing ma-
As a prime example, they, reported finding 10 deaths due to this form of cancer in a study of 307 deaths among New York' and New Jersey building trades union members engaged in using asbestos at least occasion ally as an insulation material.
By contrast, this form-of can-' ee.r was found to be the cause of death among only three out of
SPNY 000399