ASBESTOS IN THE NEWS
Casitile: campaigning for common sense
What’s in a name? Apparently nothing. The latest scientific research indicates that asbestos cement contains no asbestos at all.
A recent review by Professor Fred Pooley from Cardiff University indicates that any white asbestos fibres present in "asbestos" cement undergo a significant chemical and structural metamorphosis during the manufacturing process that renders the fibres as stable non-reactive. These chemically modified fibres pose no measurable risk to health and are so significantly altered they can no longer be classified under any of the existing asbestos types and have instead been named Casitile, to reflect their increased Calcium content.
Of all "asbestos" containing materials used in the world today, 90% are "asbestos" cement based. The public can be reassured that 90% of the products they have been encouraged to fear as being as dangerous as Plutonium are in fact stable non-reactive materials that present no measurable risk to health. This is not only an enormous gain for common sense but also for the national and world economy.
Unfortunately this latest research review, based on multiple other papers on the same topic, has first to contend with the cacophony of erroneous and sensationalist information being circulated in the public domain.
To read Asbestos Watchdog's article on Casitile and the chemical change that asbestos undergoes when rendered as cement, or to receive further information about how this affects any asbestos in your property, please Contact Us.
Artex: a triumph for common sense
Following a wide-ranging campaign by the Asbestos Watchdog and support from Christopher Booker’s campaign in the Sunday Telegraph, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) have recommended a revision to the regulations relating to asbestos containing textured decorative coatings (TDCs), commonly referred to under their commerical name, Artex.
The revised regulations were lain before Parliament in November and thus transposed into legislation by Department for Work and Pensions Minister, Lord Hunt.
Removing this product from the licensing regulations will save UK property owners and businesses around half a billion pounds each year. It will, however, also slash the profit of an asbestos-removal industry that has for many years exploited the inclusion of TDCs into the regulations, with grossly inflated charges and a disturbing number of deliberate falsification of United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) laboratory analyses of samples, laboratories that are often owned by asbestos removal contactors themselves.
For more information about how the delicensing of TDCs affects you, please Contact Us.
World Health Oganisation asbestos policy criticised by eminent scientists
The World Health Organisation (WHO)’s September 2006 policy on asbestos related diseases has come under attack.
Leading scientists have peer reviewed the paper, criticising it for "not making a persuasive argument in explaining why a ban on chrysotile (white asbestos) is necessary, or even helpful, in reducing asbestos related diseases".
Two eminent scientists, Richard Wilson from Harvard University, Massachusetts and Robert Nolan from the International Environmental Research Foundation, New York, have suggested that any justification to ban chrysotile (white asbestos) should be based on its individual properties (being the last remaining commercially used asbestos fibre) rather than the combined hazards of all types of asbestos fibres that are already banned and vary greatly from chrysotile.
The latest Policy Paper circulated by the WHO at the end of last year makes no acknowledgement that not only are exposure levels 100 times lower than they were previously in peak asbestos usage, but the dangerous forms of asbestos fibres have now been eliminated from today’s products. The WHO instead uses data pertaining to the risks from different fibres with greatly elevated toxicities (blue and brown asbestos), that no longer exist in usage today, to justify banning a fibre of significantly reduced toxicity (white asbestos).
It is also interesting to note that the WHO makes no comment on why a US judge overturned an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ban on white asbestos in 1991, nor do they mention that some of the alternatives for asbestos, such as ductile iron and PVC pipes so heavily promoted by ‘ban asbestos’ campaigns, are also human carcinogens.
Even the critics of the WHO position, however, still miss the most important factor; it is products made from asbestos fibres that should be assessed for risk, not the raw fibres tested in artificial saturation conditions in laboratories that bears no similarity to the presence of asbestos in products in the built environment.
With such glaring inconsistencies displayed by the world’s leading health organisation, it is little wonder that by the time the information filters down to individual legislative bodies in the UK the facts are so obscured as to be open to any interpretation unscrupulous third parties see fit to make.
Institute of Occupational Safety & Hygiene (IOSH) invited to asbestos debate
The Institute of Occupational Safety and Hygiene (IOSH) has been invited to an open and honest debate with Asbestos Watchdog about the current interpretation of asbestos regulations and associated asbestos health risks. The aim of the debate is to achieve a consensus view on current asbestos issues within the health and safety sphere and the effects on workers, public and businesses alike.
The Control At Work Regulations are crucial in protecting workers against asbestos related health problems, but they are sadly exploited by some contractors who make huge sums by removing all asbestos-containing products, including many that are not, irrespective of their vastly different health and safety implications. Asbestos Watchdog’s dedication to stopping the abuse of these and other asbestos regulations whilst retaining maximum compliance and worker safety lead to the invitation being extended to IOSH officials on 7th December 2006.
The discussion will not only benefit members of the IOSH community by providing them with a balanced and up to date perspective, but it would also serve to unite organisations who share many common purposes in protecting worker health whilst protecting the public from exploitation. Together it might be possible to quell some of the hysteria incited by recent asbestos scares.
Unfortunately, at the time of publication, Asbestos Watchdog has received no response from IOSH officials. This raises the question of who, if anyone, at IOSH is qualified to debate the issues in a scientific and rational way.
CASE STUDY: BEWARE THE ENVIRONMENT AGENCY
Authority’s ineptitude exposed
It may be an all too familiar a story with some readers, but each day brings to light a new case where chaos and confusion is created by the inability of supposed "experts" to understand the asbestos legislation and provide a practical application of the regulations. It is crucial to seek truly independent guidance with all asbestos-related situations.
No recent story better illustrates the ignorance of certain authorities in applying asbestos regulations than the story of a successful Cardiff skip hire company needlessly forced into bankruptcy by the Environment Agency (EA).
In late 2005, the EA received an anonymous tip off that Marlee Skip Hire owned by Graham and Sara Blackmore received a shipment of waste contaminated with ‘asbestos’. EA officers immediately swarmed the site, commissioned a report from National Britannia and confirmed that Marlee Skip Hire site was ‘contaminated’.
Without even quantifying the level of asbestos contamination, as the law in fact demands, the EA shut down the business, the Blackmores were threatened with criminal prosecution and a contract was put out to tender to decontaminate the site. Quotes for this work came in at £180,000 with recommended protocols more appropriate for dealing with blanket contamination of deadly loose Crocidolite (blue asbestos) fibres rather than the trace amounts of asbestos insulation board, too small to break regulations, and asbestos cement roof slates with asbestos fibres suitably encapsulated so as to be non-respirable, that were actually present.
It was at this point that the Blackmores sought independent advice; Asbestos Watchdog conducted a risk based assessment of the Blackmore’s situation and recommend a disposal option conforming to all legal and safety requirements that would cost around £200. Unfortunately for the Marlee Skip Hire, this independent assessment was too late; the EA refused to retract their bungled assessment and the Blackmores were forced to lay off staff, close their business and conduct a "fire-sale" to fund the inflated and unnecessary removal costs.
Sadly, this display of gross ignorance from those authorities mandated to protect us, is all too common; the Blackmores' case continues in the courts.
Do not wait until its too late to get an independent assessment of your asbestos situation. If you have any examples of similar instances, know of anyone who needs help, or are in need of help yourself, please Contact Us today to discuss how Asbestos Watchdog can help.
INTRODUCTORY SCIENCE
One of Asbestos Watchdog's key aims is to help property owners and businesses arm themselves with the latest scientific evidence about asbestos to fight exploitation by unscrupulous third parties.
It is important not to be intimidated by current asbestos scare stories, many of which are based on inaccurate and outdated science. Asbestos Watchdog's monthly newsletter will outline the latest evidence to debunk asbestos scare stories and useful information which can be applied to your own situations.
Next Issue: the truth behind the death statistics. From where DID the Government get their greatly inflated asbestos related death statistics?
CONTACT ASBESTOS WATCHDOG
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