Posted on March 3, 2014
Dr. Richard Lemen, ADAO Science Advisory Co-Chair and Assistant Surgeon General (ret.) & RADM (ret.) USPHS
“As Co-Chair of Science Advisory Board of the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization, I am pleased to share news from the recent German Cancer Congress I attended which was held 19-22 February in Berlin, Germany after attending and participating with Linda in the International Conference on Monitoring and Surveillance of Asbestos-Related Diseases in Helsinki, Finland the previous week (discussed in more detail in this Newsletter). In Berlin during the session on “The Situation of Asbestos Victims” I discussed the “Pandemic dimensions of asbestos induced cancer”. Presentations were also given by two of my colleagues and Fellows, along with myself, of the Collegium Ramazzini. Professor Woitowitz discussed Asbestos related lung cancer: Epidemiology versus compensation practice in Germany” and Dr. Baur discussed “Recognition of asbestos induced occupational diseases without histology.” Other participants included Dr. Evelyn Glensk, chair of the session and Laurie Kazan Allen of the International Campaign to Ban Asbestos and in absentia Dr. Paunovic of the WHO Regional Office for Europe.
I was most please to represent ADAO as a signatory to the Declaration in Berlin on Health hazards due to asbestos and the situation of the asbestos-related diseased. It is hoped this Declaration will bring more awareness and attention for the victims of asbestos-related diseases in Germany. For more than 40 years, I have worked on public health policy in the United States and elseware to reduce and eliminate asbestos-related diseases. I am pleased that through participation with other global leaders that efforts continue for the elimination of asbestos-related diseases worldwide. We have made progress now that over 50 Countries of the world now ban all uses of asbestos. However, in our own backyard we still have much work to do since our own country, the United States, still allows asbestos to be used. As long as this continues I will be discussing the Pandemic of Asbestos-Related Diseases rather than their eradication.”
Dr. Richard Lemen, ADAO Science Advisory Board Co-Chair and Assistant Surgeon General (ret.) & RADM (ret.) USPHS