For years, asbestos companies have defended themselves against mesothelioma claims by arguing that the type of asbestos in their products poses no risk. They’ve said that only certain, other types of asbestos can cause the rare and fatal form of cancer. But a new report published by the National Cancer Institute pushes back against those assertions and presents evidence that the risk of mesothelioma is increased by exposure no matter what type of asbestos is involved.
Study Confirms Mesothelioma Claims, Calls All Types of Asbestos Carcinogenic
The study was published in the journal Occupational and Environmental Medicine, and its conclusions relied heavily on mesothelioma diagnoses among over 500 workers. Some had no history of exposure to asbestos, some worked strictly with chrysotile asbestos, and others were exposed to different types of asbestos on the job. Of the 508 included in the report, 176 were diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma.
The researchers looked to the group diagnosed with mesothelioma to identify exactly what types of asbestos fibers they were exposed to. Though they found that chrysotile fibers by themselves raised the risk of mesothelioma, those who were exposed to a variety of asbestos types actually had a higher risk. Those who were not exposed to asbestos had the lowest risk for the asbestos-related disease.
Every Type of Asbestos Raises the Risk of Mesothelioma
These findings contradict the claims of asbestos companies and show that mesothelioma risk is present with exposure to every type of asbestos. Lead author Jason Wong writes, “Our findings suggest that policies aimed at regulating asbestos should target both pure chrysotile and mixtures that include amphibole.” This is in keeping with previous findings by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the EPA, and the International Agency for Research on Cancer.
If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma or any other asbestos-related disease, the Patient Advocates at Mesothelioma.net can help. Contact us today at 1-800-692-8608.
