Document p2pVvOpxpMKr5qkyJwr7ZwdLE

ROYAL SOCIETY OF HEALTH JOURNAL Vol.91, No.2, March-April 1971 I ASBESTOS AND HEALTH, 1971 required at present to comply with the Asbestos Rcgit- lations 1969. The neighbourhood and domestic exposure HE industrial uses of asbestos fibres have multiplied cases were initially exposed twenty to forty years ago, T following the discovery of large deposits of chry- the latent period required for mesothelioma to develop, sotile (white asbestos) in Canada in 1S80. Over a when conditions in mines, mills and factories were not as thousand uses of asbestos have been listed. The fibrwesell controlled as they are today. The current situation used besides chrysotilc are crocidolite (blue asbestoisn),the United Kingdom is that the incidence of new cases amosite (brownish) and anthophyllite (white). The latter of asbestosis has continued to increase because of de three types arc amphjboie minerals. The various bio ficiencies in the 1931 Regulations. The Asbestos Regu logical effects of asbestos may be dependent upon the lations 1969 which took effect in May 1970 have a far type of fibre to which the individual has been* mainly wider scope and application, attempt to implement a exposed. Chrysotile is the commonest fibre and accounts threshold limit value and are particularly stringent with for eighty per cent of asbestos used. regard to the use of crocidolite. The hygiene standards The first case of lung disease associated with exposure for crocidolite are ten times more stringent than.those for to asbestos dust was described in 1900 and was followed chrysotile. Chrysotile appears to carry a much smaller by further cases in 1924 and 1923. An investigation in the risk of inducing mesothelioma than crocidolite when the asbestos-textile industry in 1929 was reporteefin 2930 and dust control is good. led to the Asbestos Industry Regulations 1931 which The new cases of asbestosis and of mesothelioma are took effect on 1 January, 1933. The pulmonary fibrosis occurring in industries which were not covered by the associated with asbestos exposure is named Asbestosis 1931 Regulations such as the insulation industry and and is a Prescribed Disease for the purposes of claiming ship-building and repairing industry where environ Industrial Injuries Benefit. mental hygiene has been difficult to control. Experience In 1935 pathologists in the U.S.A. demonstrated an in factories where the 1931 Regulations have been con association between bronchial cancer and asbestosis scientiously applied indicates that dust can be reduced to which was confirmed in Britain in 1947 in the Annual apparently safe levels. The Asbestosis Research Council Report of the Chief Inspector of Factories. In 1955 Doll has issued Notes for Guidance in an attempt to assist confirmed the excess mortality from lung cancer in users of asbestos products to minimize the risk to their asbestos-textile workers in a factory in the North of employees and others. In the control of asbestos related England. Follow up of this cohort has demonstrated that disease it is imperative that wherever practicable all in workers with twenty years employment which com measures are taken to prevent the escape of harmful menced prior to 1933 the mortality from bronchial concentrations of dust. Dust masks and respirators are cancer is ten times the expected: whereas in workers with an admission of defeat in controlling the environment, twenty years employment since 1933 the mortality and must only be regarded as a secondary defence observed is no greater than expected. This is regarded as measure. In a recent judgement against an asbestos being due to the improvement in environmental control company amounting in total to 86,469 damages, Mr. as a result of the 1931 Regulations. Justice Thesiger stated that failure to wear respirators In 1960 Wagner reported an association between continuously did not amount to negligence on the part exposure to crocidolite asbestos in the mining areas of of the plaintiff, and he held that the "sole, direct and the North West Cape Province of South Africa and a effective cause" of the asbestosis contracted was the rare form of malignant tumour of the pleura known as employer's breach of statutory regulations. mesothelioma. This publication stimulated the retro The disposal of asbestos waste must be closely super spective epidemiological study by Newhousc and vised. The Asbestosis Research Council with the approval Thompson in London, which demonstrated a similar of the Ministry of Housing and Local Government has association between deaths due to mesothelioma and issued a Code qf Practice for Guidance which has been asbestos exposure. Although there is little doubt of the made freely available to all local authorities. The gener association, and crocidolite from the North-West Cape ation of dust in a factory attracts the Asbestos Regu as opposed to other mining areas appears to be the most lations 1969 and is the concern of H.M. Factory dangerous, there remain about fifteen to twenty per cent Inspectorate. The emission of asbestos dust or other of cases where no asbestos exposure history can be ob harmful chemical waste from the factory into the general tained. Both Wagner and Newhouw found cases whose atmosphere becomes the concern of the Chief Alkali In exposure was either neighbourhood (i.e. living near a spector attached to the Department of Health and Social mine or factory) or domestic (i.e. exposed to dusty over Security. When asbestos waste is conveyed from the alls or clothing). Recent evidence suggests that the general factory to be disposed of on a municipal tip, the health population is exposed to levels of ebrysotite asbestos far inspector of the local authority is generally charged with less than those encountered in industry and insufficient responsibility for ensuring that it is buried and cannoc to be regarded as a danger to the public health. These become a public health hazard. levels are, indeed, well below the Hygiene Standards 3APCO KIN 0001356 *