These are alarming figures that were announced on August 14 by the High Council of Public Health (HCSP) in a report on the health risk associated withasbestos.
Based on data from the 2013 Institut de Veille Sanitaire, the HCSP report announces that asbestos will be the cause of 68,000 to 100,000 deaths from cancer, between 2009 and 2050.
Among these probable deaths, the HCSP indicates that 50,000 to 75,000 deaths will be due to lung cancer following exposure to asbestos, while the remaining 18,000 to 25,000 deaths will be due to mesothelioma, cancer of the mesothelium, affecting in particular the pleura, the lining of the lungs.
Over the period 1955-2009, between 61,300 and 118,400 deaths were attributed to asbestos, according to the study.
While asbestos was banned from construction in 1997, its rate in buildings prior to that date is limited to 5 fibers per liter of air. Above this standard, asbestos removal and containment work must be undertaken.
While some experts from the HCSP proposed to lower the regulatory threshold, the HCSP finally decided against a lowering of the rate: “As long as the current regulations (…) are not applied correctly, (…) it is illusory to lower the threshold for triggering works. “ In the report, it is even explained that a reduction would be premature since the preparation for the induced risks and the waste management is already complicated.
The HCSP still proposes, if all the measurement and treatment conditions are met, to lower the threshold to 2 fibers per liter of air on January 1, 2020.
However, it seems that the damage has been done, since exposure to asbestos before the work of many buildings will be the cause of future deaths linked to several types of Cancer until 2050.
Source:
Recommendations for the management of asbestos risk in the habitat and the environment, HCSP.
