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Chief scientist confirms white asbestos risks

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Chief scientist confirms white asbestos risks

White asbestos deserves its top level cancer rating, the government's chief scientific adviser has told ministers. In a move thought to have been a response to lobbying of the work and pensions secretary by asbestos-industry linked groups, Iain Duncan Smith asked Sir John Beddington, head of the Government Office for Science, to consider whether any evidence exists that would 'justify an imminent change to the 'international scientific consensus on the classification of asbestos' and so allow ministers to reconsider UK legislation.' A March 2011 meeting of experts, chaired by Sir John, considered evidence including several papers by scientists associated with the asbestos industry. Reporting his findings in a letter to the secretary of state, Sir John wrote 'it is not possible to determine a threshold level below which exposure to 'pure' chrysotile could be deemed 'safe' for human health. The same applies for exposure to chrysotile from cement during removal and disposal activities.' He concluded 'it is my opinion that on the evidence available there is no justification for an imminent change to the international scientific consensus on the classification of chrysotile as a Class 1 carcinogen.' This ranks chrysotile as an unequivocal cause of cancer in humans. In February, the European Commission told the UK government in a 'reasoned opinion' the UK interpretation of the EU asbestos directive was illegally lax. The Health and Safety Executive has since 'confirmed its agreement' with the EC finding that it under-implemented the law and has agreed to amend the legislation (Risks 504). It is believed HSE will recommend an extension of the regulations, with more but not all asbestos work required to be done by licensed contractors. All asbestos work will have to be notified to the authorities along with the submission of a method statement for how the work is to be done, the HSE proposals are expected to say.

BIS webpage on chrysotile asbestos. 11 May 2011 letter from Sir John Beddington to work and pensions secretary Iain Duncan Smith [pdf]. Meeting Notes - GCSA meeting on the Classification and Regulation of Chrysotile Asbestos, 7 March 2011 [pdf].

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