Document pmXroJEzw88Gz94nyo6D72Lvw

DOW-1697 A Scientific View of Asbestos by Brooke Taybr Mossman, PhD One must idmllft chewy faraiimunii. mditjonof ctoM^oaiuiiiiiigniaertalbelwtdecalinganiplar oT3ionThecoocEnlnnonindsla<Ysbcafflfibcg Sffieiirepealsoimportant in deunniningwhether a risk exhn, as (Hers must be aiibome and of > certain dimension before they an enter lhe legendary Iract and cause disease. AebcMo* Type aod Dic**e Potential Venous types of abeam fibers m chemiolly and physically flfiercnL ChtyaoMIe, the type of asbestos sccounhng far 90-95% of die world's production of asbesax, is die type most commonly found In build ings. It is a pliable, curly fiber which is thought to degrade in the lung owrtime. In contrast, other types ofasbestos,classified asamphiboles,are rod-lilefibers whichcan penetratethedeqilurigandremaindurable oner lime. Threediseaseshawoccurredin woritplaceatlings after intense exposure to asbestos. These include: jsbeaous. king cancer, and mesothelioma. Aabestosis Asbetioszs is a nonmalignam disease which apreventablein waterswhoadhereto Occupa tional Safety and HealthAdmimaration (OSHA) regu lations. Uu* cancer Theowwhetming majority oflung carins to (he US. population are caused bysmoking and radon exposure, lung cancers are increased in asbestosworimwhosmoke, but are rare in nonsmokers. Al low levels d exposure, it is uncertain whether Reacts contributesto lungcamcer. Fordeereasons, cessation ofsmoking is thebetapproach to reduction of lungcancer in the general papulation. McaotheUmna Mewtheiioraa. * rare tumor m that approximately 1,500 to2,000 cases are diagnosed annually in the U^. tn comparison to 130,000 lung canoert, is the most relevant disease to be considered when evaluating health risbdueto asbestosexposure nbuddmgs.jtyraximaiefy7Q-S% occur in penoosvith ahistoryofexposure to asbestos. Mesxhefamas in asbestos workersoccur after Intense opcsuresloamphlboleasbestos, and rarelyaferexposuretochrysotik-Th^thedetaromationofthe^ of asbestos in buildings is importantwhen evaluating risk. Fiber Ste Data on asbestos workers and Kperiniental models indicate that long asbestos fibers are those causing biological effects and turnon long fibers (> 5 in length) are most potent in the in&ictian of mesotheliomas in animals and in cel) transformation (e, a test indicating the malignant potential offibers). * lw. = H.'.. .."a*1 April 01 SfcytlnpA *'"1 Condition of ACM Asbestos in building; cm be found behind walls or exposed as Insulation, sealed in Soon, theazeofthefibersandconcentntiion in airnuiubeassesediodeSenniKwiKiher it poses a risk to human health. Q wrapped around pipes, etc Airborne fi* benare releasedwhen in-placeasbestos Brooke Taylor Mouman, PhD, u an hasdeterioratedorIsdistintred.Airlesels AssociaiePrtfessorofPathologyatthe of asbesus are generally wry low in UnivtrntyofVcTTnont CollegeofMedi busldinp (much loanerthanlevelswhich cine, and has been studying mecha gave rise to disease in ihe past) and nisms of asbestos-related disease for conpanbk so amounts in outside air. over 15years In-place adrettca wanantscai* and management, but the type of asbestos. TWzT, 831SVW -------------- --ff/Ag aiva asvsvxva sois38Sd jm osoamm Asbestos trust overhaul OK'd Aosesoted ftor organisation. Manville, once SNEW YORK -- A federal Judge yesterday approved the overhaul of the failing Man- vitle trout ftradtO-Speed com- prnMtlnn to tens of.thott mult nf -Claimants asbestos rlucisc. trapped In the na - tion's biggeat worker health crisis. In a S0$page opinion. VS District Judge Jack B. Wein stein renewed calls for con- essional intervention to Ip end the deeadanold le gal battle, which he said could cost up to SSI billion to resolve. the nation's largest producer and supplier of asbestos and asbestos-containing products, sought bankruptcy protec tion in 1982 after it was inun dated by asbestos claims. Asbestos Is an Insulation material used widely In In dustry from the late 1808s un til the 1970s. Weinstein's ruling establishes a new method of payIng workers or H their families for ailments such ns lung eucer caused The Judge tiso predicted by Inhaling sa. that more companies beyond bestoa. It will the dosen that already have pay deserving claimants ac declared bankruptcy protec cording to the severity of tion would run out of money their Illnesses, abandoning a to meet asbestos liabilities. first-come, first-served -A national consolidation scheme that had depleted the end integrated solution to trust's assets. the asbestos problem is Under the restructuring, needed if we are to adequate Manville will contribute an ly compenaate the Injured additional $520 million to the without destroying the effec trust over the next seven tiveness of much of our In years and the trust will be dustry and some of our tree to sell a $14 billion Man courts," Weinstein wrote. ville bond to raise more cash. The cleseection settlement Weinstein barred future wes propueed last November lawsuits against the trust or alter the UsnvUle trust, the the company and ordered nation's main mechanism for tens of thousands of pending compensating asbestos vic cases against the trust dis tims, depleted Us cash after missed to reduce Its legal ex making Inaccurate estimates penses, which totaled SSO mil of claims and payments. lion last year. That was The trust was created in achieved by comMuing all 1988 as part of Manville lawsuits against the trust Coro-'a bankruutev court re Into a single class action. PHILADELPHIA DAILY KEUS m i/, m f 11I90L0-1S ,