Document a1OrmrGbNJevJywo6ZYEzrQ0X

FILE NAME: Newspaper & Magazine Articles (NMA) DATE: 1966 Nov 6 DOC#: NMA201 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION: Newspaper Article - Sunday Times - Asbestos at the Docks Asbestos at the docks Sir,--I refer to the artide bjr Dr Alfred Byrne, "Dockers Fear Health Peril from Asbestos." In the present state of scientific medical knowledge, mesothe* lioma should not, surely, be allowed to cause panic reactions until the fullest details regard* ing its distribution and causes are fully understood. The work of our dockers, un like that of men in a bestos production industries, is noncontinuous and limited as to time and exposure to injurious substances. Dr Byrne's earlier article, to which he refers, implies quite terrifying risks even to persons handling pre parations of asbestos commonly used in their own household chores. From what he has said it could appear that the danger of mesothelioma might be present on any building site or in the homes of the public where preparations such as asbestos wool-lagging are com monly used. Although asbestos has not been regarded as having likely association with the develop ment of mesothelioma among the dockers one is unable to say that scientific investigations still going on concerning a variety known as crocidolite might not onfe day show it as a noxious substance of more severe signi ficance. The Port of London Authority during the summer of 1965 were active in co-operating "with the Ministry of Labourrand oth'efii to pursue investigations and formulate measures by which any sort of risk from asbestos cargoes generally would best be tackled. On the findings and recommendations of these in quiries representations were made to the shippers to ensure new and b itter methods of packaging .crude cargoes of asbestos c o m i n g into the country. The report produced to the parties concerned does not apparently diverge to any great extent from what was sub sequently circulated by my department to Port of London Authority staff; it was concluded that such risk as there might be in this country would not amount to more for dock labourers than for other workers. Dr Byrne's articles are of interest as containing expres sions of broad scientific conjec ture published where they will attract attention from many who have no access to informed and impartial opinion. In his concluding paragraphs one is happier when noting an admission that questions of packaging and loading are in fact exercising the " ingenuity of doctors, scientists and indus trialists throughout the world." Dr Byrne, however, does not give credit to the Port of Lon don Authority for the part which they have played and are play ing in this connection. When ever questions are raised about objectionable c a r g o e s the Authority is invariably inter ested to seek for and press measures by which these can be mitigated and controlled. The Authority's health policy is directed to prevention rather than passive acceptance of unknown risks., Accident Preven tion Committees, on which sit -representatives of the staff, meet regularly at the docks and their questions and observations on subjects of physical accidents and possible injuries to health are regularly passed to the Authority's head office, where they are considered and advised on by members of management and o the medical department In conclusion, it can be said that since December, 1946, when comprehensive returns of health of all Port of London Authority staff were initiated, there is no instance of any case of asbestosis, or malignant growth of the lung attributable to asbestos, or of mesothelioma, being reported in the service. A M Lawrence-Smith, Medical Officer, Port of London Authority London E C 3 Dr Alfred Byrne writes: Dr LawrenceSmith has failed to deal with the several points In hts circular to the dockers, where, I suggested, he was factually wrong. HU letter is equally Inaccurate If It U claiming that the P L A has removed the risk of asbestos from the docks. Moreover, l find no comfort In his assertion that no cases of meso thelioma have arisen since 1946, seeing that It takes an average of 40 years for the tumour to appear. Fixing the rate Sir,--We were intrigued to learn from last Sunday's article ("Dockers fear health peril from asbestos ") that payment of 2s. per hour has some beneficial or preventive effect on pleural cancers from inhaled asbestos, and would appreciate informa tion on the research which led to the fixing of a particular sum to combat the occurrence of mesothelioma. This principle of prevention by payment could perhaps be extended to other forms of disease. Just to make sure in the case of the dockers, we would suggest that 2s. 4d. or ,2s. 9Jd. per hour may be even more beneficial. J L J de Bary, M R C S, L R C P, D I H A. Ward Gardner, MD, D IH D C Murphy, B Sc, F R I C, F Inst Pet. Fawley, Hants I 1 (o * t i * (o b