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Journal of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology
Published in: Journal of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology 1/2021

Open Access 01-12-2021 | Asbestos-Related Disease | Commentary

Ongoing downplaying of the carcinogenicity of chrysotile asbestos by vested interests

Authors: Xaver Baur, Arthur L. Frank

Published in: Journal of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology | Issue 1/2021

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Abstract

Industries that mine, manufacture and sell asbestos or asbestos-containing products have a long tradition of promoting the use of asbestos, while placing the burden of economic and health costs on workers and society. This has been successfully done in recent years and decades in spite of the overwhelming evidence that all asbestos types are carcinogenic and cause asbestosis. In doing so, the asbestos industry has undermined the WHO campaign to reach a worldwide ban of asbestos and to eliminate asbestos-related diseases. Even worse, in recent years they succeeded in continuing asbestos mining and consuming in the range of about 1.3 million tons annually. Nowadays, production takes place predominantly in Russia, Kazakhstan and China. Chrysotile is the only asbestos type still sold and represents 95% of asbestos traded over the last century.
The asbestos industry, especially its PR agency, the International Chrysotile Association, ICA, financed by asbestos mining companies in Russia, Kazakhstan and Zimbabwe and asbestos industrialists in India and Mexico, continues to be extremely active by using slogans such as chrysotile can be used safely.
Another approach of the asbestos industry and of some of its insurance agencies is to broadly defeat liability claims of asbestos victims.
In doing so they systematically use inappropriate science produced by their own and/or by industry-affiliated researchers. Some of the latter were also engaged in producing defense material for other industries including the tobacco industry. Frequent examples of distributing such disinformation include questioning or denying established scientific knowledge about adverse health effects of asbestos. False evidence continues to be published in scientific journals and books.
The persisting strong influence of vested asbestos-related interests in workers and public health issues including regulations and compensation necessitate ongoing alertness, corrections and appropriate reactions in scientific as well as public media and policy advisory bodies.
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Metadata
Title
Ongoing downplaying of the carcinogenicity of chrysotile asbestos by vested interests
Authors
Xaver Baur
Arthur L. Frank
Publication date
01-12-2021
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Journal of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology / Issue 1/2021
Electronic ISSN: 1745-6673
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12995-021-00295-2

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Journal of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology 1/2021 Go to the issue

Research

Eating behaviour and weight development of European and Asian seafarers during stay on board and at home

Research

Online survey among maritime pilots: job-related stress and strain and the effects on their work ability

Research

Oxidative stress and DNA damage in agricultural workers after exposure to pesticides

Research

Mortality from Parkinson’s disease and other causes among a workforce manufacturing paraquat: an updated retrospective cohort study

Research

A mass casualty incident of infectious diseases at the port of Hamburg: an analysis of organizational structures and emergency concepts

Short report

Sleep duration and satisfaction among physicians in tertiary public hospitals in China: a large sample national survey