BBC News Broadcasts Provides Insight into the Asbestos Mining Trade
BBC News has recently launched a 23 min (approx) documentary to raise awareness about the various asbestos mining companies trading worldwide.The news feature broadcasts the dangers associated with asbestos exposure,e and highlights the varying opinions of certain professionals working within the asbestos industry. During this broadcast toxicologists, health officials and medical experts all appear to have conflicting views as to exactly how harmful white asbestos dust actually is to the human body.
The BBC Interview Mesothelioma Sufferers
Among these brave Mesothelioma victims is Janice Tompkins. Janice believed that she was exposed during a tour of an asbestos mine. It was discovered later that this was not the case. Janice had been incubating Mesothelioma from many years earlier and is believed to have been exposed to harmful 'blue' or 'brown' asbestos fibres unawares. The television programme illustrates Janice’s predicament, her consultation with the medical institute, and brings to light the reality of her rapid deterioration of health. The BBC team broadcast interesting interviews with Dr Dick Menzies who clearly states during the programme: “Mesothelioma is a rare disease… 3/4 to 4/5 of patients (Mesothelioma patients) have a clear history of exposure to asbestos”.
More than fifty countries worldwide have banned the use of asbestos.
Canada seems to be an exception to this. It is suggested that asbestos is not mined and produced strictly for Canadian usage. The Canadian asbestos trade concentrates on exporting and transporting asbestos products to some of the poorest areas of the world.
Dr Dick Menzies debates the safe use of white asbestos. He seems clearly against current practices and regulations in the industry that govern the "safe transportation" of raw white asbestos products. In contrast to this, speakers and officials from various other countries debate that white asbestos is clearly not the culprit of Mesothelioma, based on scientific evidence, and in fact only brown and blue asbestos fibres are considered dangerous. Dr Menzies expresses his concerns for the future and expects more cases of asbestos related diseases in the next twenty years resulting from white asbestos exposure.
British toxicologist 'Dr John Hoskins' states “I am absolutely convinced that crysotile (white asbestos) is being demonised…I think there is an immeasurably small risk, and immeasurably risk means it cannot be measured; we cannot demonstrate such a risk”
Hoskins goes on to say: “I would believe it (the risk) to be so low as to be unimportant compared to the normal risks of life…”
Dr Hoskins formed these views whilst conducting toxicology reports and studies for the UK Government in the 1980’s.
The BBC 'Dangers in the Dust' documentary delves into political issues associated with the asbestos industry in China, India, Brazil and Canada and is a huge eye opener into why the asbestos mineral is still being mined for asbestos products today, and (reading between the lines) unveils possible reasons why health risks often appear to be disregarded. Worldwide and politically speaking – there is so much to overcome regarding this issue. So called expert opinions are simply too varied on this issue. Business agendas and Government politics prevent worldwide asbestos bans. It would seem that Mesothelioma related deaths will continue in the developing world for the foreseeable future. Mesothelioma Hindsight welcomes your viewpoint on this topic.
To gain a better insight view the documentary online at BBC iPlayer -
View the following link to the inside world of the asbestos industry: Dangers in the Dust
(Only 10 days left of viewing)
