Asbestos risk probe

Press, 24 March 1977, Page 13

Asbestos risk probe

PA Wanganui Auckland University's community health department and the Engineer’s Union arr launching a joint national investigation into health risks faced by people who handle asbestos. The study has been prompted by overseas reports that asbestos dust has caused cancer and killed hundreds of people. Next month the union's 46,000 members will be asked to return a magazine coupon if they have been in contact with asbestos during their working lives. A senior lecturer in the community health depart-

ment. Dr T. E. Kjellstrom, said from Auckland that the main aim was to make more people aware of the dangers of asbestos and to achieve better health precautions. Dr Kjellstrom said he hoped to hear from workers who had been in contact with asbestos during the 1940 s and 19505. Asbestos was a treacherous material because its effects took 20 years to become apparent. Those who had been in contact with the material recently could be checked on for the next 20 years in an effort to determine the effectiveness of any safety measures.

He also hoped to get the names of other workers who

had been in contact with asbestos, and possibly the i names of those who had i since died. Medical records (would then be checked. The Health Department is (setting procedures for tho*e (coming into contact with (asbestos, similar to proce■l dures applied to people centring into regular contact with ■I lead, ii Dr Kjellstrom said it wa» I hard to prove that any one I death w'as the result of asJbestos. though it was known to cause one particular type i of cancer. The survey would |be able to show whether a (group of workers using the .{material was more prone to II death through cancer.