Chrysotile Asbestos
Can Chrysotile cause cancer?
Chrysotile Asbestos is classed as a Group 1 carcinogen by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). There must be sufficient evidence that a substance definitely causes cancer to be classified as a Group 1 carcinogen. Other lesser groups are 2, 2A, 2B, 3 and 4. Group 4 is for substances that probably don't cause cancer in humans.
Below is an extract from "The IARC monographs of the evaluation of carcinogenic risk to humans"
There is sufficient evidence in humans for the carcinogenicity of all forms of asbestos (chrysotile,crocidolite, amosite, tremolite, actinolite, and anthophyllite). Asbestos causes mesothelioma and cancer of the lung, larynx, and ovary. Also positive associations have been observed between exposure to all forms of asbestos and cancer of the pharynx, stomach, and colorectum. For cancer of the colorectum, the Working Group was evenly divided as to whether the evidence was strong enough to warrant classification as sufficient.There is sufficient evidence in experimental animals for the carcinogenicity of all forms of asbestos (chrysotile, crocidolite, amosite, tremolite, actinolite and anthophyllite). All forms of asbestos (chrysotile, crocidolite, amosite, tremolite, actinolite and anthophyllite) are carcinogenic to humans (Group 1).
Why do some people say it is safe?
The Chrysotile Institute has been responsible for publishing much misleading information worldwide indicating that chrysotile asbestos is perfectly safe if handled correctly. The Chrysotile Institute was funded by both industry and the Quebec and Canadian government. The combined contribution by the Quebec and Canadian government has been estimated to be around half a million dollars a year amounting to tens of millions of dollars over the lifetime of the Chrysotile Institute. The Chrysotile Institute was formally known as the Asbestos Institute but changed the name when Asbestos became an unsavoury word. For more information about the Chrysotile Institute and the Canadian asbestos industry, the article "Exporting Harm" by Kathleen Ruff is worth reading.
The Evidence.
The evidence that Chrysotile asbestos is dangerous to humans in now overwhelming. Despite the best efforts of the Chrysotile Institute and the worldwide asbestos industry, Chrysotile asbestos has been proven beyond reasonable doubt to cause a variety of different cancers in human beings, hence being listed as a Group 1 carcinogen by the World Health Organisation. This article by Lawyers Walter and Kraus, “No doubt about it” shows what a sham the “Chrysotile defence” perpetuated by the Chrysotile industry really is. The article also dismisses the “Tremolite hypothesis” which was another vain attempt to by the asbestos industry to prove Chrysotile as safe. The article “Occupational Exposure to Chrysotile Asbestos and Cancer Risk: A review of the Amphibole Hypothesis” is also an enlightening document highlighting the flaws in the so called “Amphibole Hypothesis” which tries to blame Tremolite contamination for the carcinogenicity of Chrysotile asbestos.
The truth is out there for those who bother to read all the evidence. A good place to start in the "The IARC monographs of the evaluation of carcinogenic risk to humans" this document shows the though process that the IARC has gone through to evaluate the carcinogenicity of Chrysotile asbestos.
Updated 10th October 2013
Chrysotile Asbestos is classed as a Group 1 carcinogen by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). There must be sufficient evidence that a substance definitely causes cancer to be classified as a Group 1 carcinogen. Other lesser groups are 2, 2A, 2B, 3 and 4. Group 4 is for substances that probably don't cause cancer in humans.
Below is an extract from "The IARC monographs of the evaluation of carcinogenic risk to humans"
There is sufficient evidence in humans for the carcinogenicity of all forms of asbestos (chrysotile,crocidolite, amosite, tremolite, actinolite, and anthophyllite). Asbestos causes mesothelioma and cancer of the lung, larynx, and ovary. Also positive associations have been observed between exposure to all forms of asbestos and cancer of the pharynx, stomach, and colorectum. For cancer of the colorectum, the Working Group was evenly divided as to whether the evidence was strong enough to warrant classification as sufficient.There is sufficient evidence in experimental animals for the carcinogenicity of all forms of asbestos (chrysotile, crocidolite, amosite, tremolite, actinolite and anthophyllite). All forms of asbestos (chrysotile, crocidolite, amosite, tremolite, actinolite and anthophyllite) are carcinogenic to humans (Group 1).
Why do some people say it is safe?
The Chrysotile Institute has been responsible for publishing much misleading information worldwide indicating that chrysotile asbestos is perfectly safe if handled correctly. The Chrysotile Institute was funded by both industry and the Quebec and Canadian government. The combined contribution by the Quebec and Canadian government has been estimated to be around half a million dollars a year amounting to tens of millions of dollars over the lifetime of the Chrysotile Institute. The Chrysotile Institute was formally known as the Asbestos Institute but changed the name when Asbestos became an unsavoury word. For more information about the Chrysotile Institute and the Canadian asbestos industry, the article "Exporting Harm" by Kathleen Ruff is worth reading.
The Evidence.
The evidence that Chrysotile asbestos is dangerous to humans in now overwhelming. Despite the best efforts of the Chrysotile Institute and the worldwide asbestos industry, Chrysotile asbestos has been proven beyond reasonable doubt to cause a variety of different cancers in human beings, hence being listed as a Group 1 carcinogen by the World Health Organisation. This article by Lawyers Walter and Kraus, “No doubt about it” shows what a sham the “Chrysotile defence” perpetuated by the Chrysotile industry really is. The article also dismisses the “Tremolite hypothesis” which was another vain attempt to by the asbestos industry to prove Chrysotile as safe. The article “Occupational Exposure to Chrysotile Asbestos and Cancer Risk: A review of the Amphibole Hypothesis” is also an enlightening document highlighting the flaws in the so called “Amphibole Hypothesis” which tries to blame Tremolite contamination for the carcinogenicity of Chrysotile asbestos.
The truth is out there for those who bother to read all the evidence. A good place to start in the "The IARC monographs of the evaluation of carcinogenic risk to humans" this document shows the though process that the IARC has gone through to evaluate the carcinogenicity of Chrysotile asbestos.
Updated 10th October 2013