iMig has posted videos of plenary sessions from Day 1 iMig 2014, and summaries of some other sessions. Best of Imig 2014 – Day 1 is online here, at iMig.
One of the summaries is from a presentation by Julian Peto, a world class PhD epidemiologist with a focus on asbestos topics, among others. The summary of Dr. Peto’s presentation includes good news and not so good news for chrystotile defendants. The summary of Dr. Peto’s presentation states the following:
Worldwide Epidemiology of Mesothelioma – Dr. Julian Peto
The mesothelioma epidemic is approaching or past the peak in North America, Europe and Australasia, but is still a significant healthcare issue in many parts of the world. Deaths due to mesothelioma for men born in the 1940’s in Britain are expected to reach 1%. At present, there is significant controversy regarding the danger associated with chrysotile, and whether or not amphiboles that are still present in many older buildings in Europe still cause substantial environmental and occupational risks. Dr. Peto and colleagues addressed these issues by assessing worldwide mortality trends and asbestos lung burden in population- based case-control study including 136 mesotheliomas and 377 controls in the United Kingdom. These analyses prompted provided several key findings about mesothelioma risk and burden:
National mesothelioma rates reflect historic amphibole consumption, and show no correlation with chrysotile consumption and this suggests that the common assertion that continued mining or use of chrysotile will cause a major mesothelioma epidemic in countries such as Russia and China is mistaken. However, chrysotile is significantly associated with lung cancer.The relationship between age and rate of mesothelioma mortality is the same across the world.
The relationship between age and rate of mesothelioma mortality is the same across the world. The majority of mesothelioma in women is due to occupational exposure, but the source(s) are not clear. In Britain mesothelioma incidence is proportional to amphibole lung burden: o National rates are proportional to average lung burdens in birth cohorts born between 1940 and 1965. o Lung burdens are very low in those born since 1980, suggesting a large reduction in environmental as well as occupational exposure in Britain soon after asbestos use ceased. o There is little continuing hazard in Britain from the asbestos materials that are still present in many older buildings.