Japan Discover Asbestos Bad!

[GuyJean]

Japan's Asbestos time Bomb
http://www.guardian.co.uk/elsewhere/journalist/story/0,7792,1536972,00.html

The failure of the world's second-largest economy to heed the health warnings over asbestos amounts to a national disgrace, writes Justin McCurry

It was once embraced as the answer to the construction industry's prayers: a cheap, light and easily obtainable substance that would make buildings stronger, warmer and more resistant to fire. A quarter of a century has passed since the world was emphatically warned that asbestos was also a killer.

The material has been blamed for thousands of deaths, and has condemned its victims to years of suffering from lung cancer, pneumoconiosis and mesothelioma, a cancer of the chest and abdominal cavities of which asbestos inhalation is the only known cause.

While most of the industrialised world has banned or severely restricted the use of asbestos, the substance is now fuelling the rapid development of several Asian countries including China and Thailand.

Those countries could do worse than listen to the hundreds of stories of lives painfully cut short in Japan, which is only just coming to terms with the full horror of its former dependence on asbestos and the inept response of its government to the health consequences.

The most recent revelations began as a trickle at the end of last month when Kubota, a manufacturer of farm equipment, admitted that 79 former employees had died of cancer and other diseases linked to asbestos over the past few decades.

Then came the deluge: according to health ministry data almost 900 people died of mesothelioma in 2003 alone, and last week the trade ministry said nearly 400 people - and in several cases their relatives as well - working for dozens of companies had died from diseases caused by the inhalation of asbestos.

Sometimes too much wa makes you stupid...

GJ

[mondogondo]

Do they smoke cigarettes in Japan?
I guess asbestos just doesn't have taste as good, look cool or appeal to teenagers so get rid of it first.

[Mulboyne]

Asahi: Chairman of asbestos-risks panel to resign
The chairman of a new Environment Ministry panel on the health risks of asbestos is resigning from the post after it was learned he spent years serving as an industry adviser and even appeared in a publicity video...According to the Environment Ministry, Sakurai served as adviser to the Japan Asbestos Association from July 1985 to March 1997. In a publicity video produced by the association in 1994, Sakurai downplayed asbestos risks. The 28-minute video is titled "Asbestos, a natural resource that contributes to society." In the video, Sakurai defends the use of asbestos while discussing the need to prevent health problems. "Health damage from asbestos must be prevented at any cost," he said. "But asbestos is a natural material and in fact wafts in the air in a natural environment. It is not realistic to reduce it to zero. There are other carcinogens, too."

He went on to say: "White asbestos (chrysotile), which is used in large quantities, is less risky to human health. It is wrong to say all asbestos is bad." As for quitting his post, Sakurai said: "When I was asked to head the panel, I didn't think it was relevant that I had once been an adviser (to the asbestos association). I gave guidance on safety and health issues. (But) I have decided to quit as it is a matter that concerns the panel's credibility."

[IkemenTommy]

Asbestos used at 3,700 train, subway station
At least 3,700 train and subway stations used asbestos for construction purposes-- including 31 where sprayed materials that contain or likely contain the toxic substance were left uncovered, an Asahi Shimbun survey found.(August 23) (]more)

Coming to a train station near you..

[Captain Japan]

Revision to require landlords to remove, contain asbestos
Asahi

The infrastructure ministry will require landlords of apartments and residential buildings to remove or contain sprayed asbestos, a move that could influence sales and leases of secondhand homes, officials said.

The ministry plans to submit a bill to revise the current Building Standards Law to the Diet next year.

At a meeting of an advisory panel to the minister of land, infrastructure and transport, officials came up with a draft report to clearly define the responsibility of landlords, the officials said.

Under the current Industrial Safety and Health Law, business establishments, such as offices and factories, are required to remove or contain the cancer-causing substance.

But such regulations concerning the use of asbestos in existing residential buildings have not been established.

The revised law will require owners and landlords of those buildings to remove or contain sprayed asbestos and sprayed rock wool that contains asbestos if the substances have been left exposed to people....more...