Australian warns against asbestos

William Atkins
Tuesday, 17 August 2010 00:31

Science - Health

Dr. Peter Sly, an expert in asbestos, warns the world that asbestos is still a major problem in developing countries. Although banned in 52 countries, its use is prevalent in many other countries--making it a hazardous substance for millions of people.

 

 

Dr. Peter D. Sly founded the Division of Clinical Sciences at the Queensland Children’s Medical Research Institute, which is located at the University of Queensland.

The professor states that over two million tonnes of asbestos were produced around the world in 2008 even though there is an international effort to ban such practices.

In the Sydney Morning Herald article “Asbestos still a global threat” Dr. Sly states, “Developing countries, especially in Asia and Eastern Europe, are mining or importing asbestos for domestic use, and now account for the majority of the world's exposure to asbestos.”

The quote came from his paper, which was published on August 16, 2010, in the Medical Journal of Australia.

The paper is entitled “Asbestos still poses a threat to global health: now is the time for action (MJA 2010; 193 (4): 198-199).

Besides Dr. Sly, its authors are Robin Chase, John Kolbe, Philip Thompson, Leena Gupta, Mike Daube, Ian Olver, and Deborah Vallance.

The abstract to the paper states, “The adverse health effects of asbestos are well known, with all forms of asbestos recognised as human carcinogens, causing malignant mesothelioma, lung, laryngeal and ovarian cancers as well as the debilitating non-malignant diffuse lung disease, asbestosis, and pleural plaques.”

Page two concludes with more on the dangers of asbestos.