Posted on May 3, 2016
Dear Drs. Dean Fennell and David Waller, Co-Chairs of IMig 2016
Dr. Richard Lemen
I would like to urge the IMig 2016 Conference, of which you are Co-Chairpersons, to adopt a resolution condemning the continued use of all forms of asbestos, including chrysotile. Yesterday you held a discussion chaired by Dr. Jim teWaterNaude, South Africa and Ms. Laurie Kazan-Allen, United Kingdom, concerning chrysotile asbestos, a substance that has been extensively studied and proven to cause asbestos-induced cancers, including mesothelioma. Now that this discussion is over and both speakers, Dr. David Egilman and Dr. Julian Peto have reiterated that chrysotile asbestos causes asbestos-induced cancers, including mesothelioma, I ask that you and the leadership of IMig 2016 join the World Scientific Community in condemning further use of all forms of asbestos, including chrysotile.
Recently, I and other scientists have put together a Chrysotile Fact Sheet summarizing the scientific consensus of its dangers. I am attaching this Fact Sheet and I hope you will make it available to your entire attendance. In it you will see clear consensus that chrysotile asbestos can not be used safely nor is it a safe form of asbestos.
I hope that during IMig 2016 your organization will now join the clarion call for a Worldwide ban on the use of all forms of asbestos including chrysotile. As I understand IMig is “an independent international group of scientists and clinicians working to understand, cure and prevent mesothelioma.” Thus, what better time to fulfill this mission and provide leadership through passing a resolution condemning the further use of asbestos worldwide and stopping the mushrooming epidemic of asbestos-related diseases.
I wish IMig continued success.
Sincerely,
Richard A. Lemen, Ph.D., MSPH
Assistant United States Surgeon General,
United States Public Health Service (retired)