1. Asbestos fiber burden as the gold standard: another perversion of science Collegium Ramazzini– October 2016
Arthur L. Frank, MD, PhD

2. There continues to be legitimate questions in the area of asbestos science
Fiber toxicity
Fiber size
Genetics
Multiple factor interactions

3. There also continues to be a travesty of science with illegitimate views.
Chrysotile does not cause mesothelioma
Brakes do not cause disease
One needs to study each product or job category
Different populations do not get disease
“Safe Use”

4. We must remember the classic Ramazzini question.

5. The True Gold Standard
Van Cleemput et al – Am. J. Resp. Crit. Care Med. 165:134,

6. Problems with Fiber Burden
No standard methodology
Altering technique (e.g.: pore size)
Chrysotile issue
Time since last exposure
What tissue to evaluate (lung, pleura, other)
What fiber size to count

7. Except in legal circles everyone agrees on the hazards of Chrysotile
Except in legal circles everyone agrees on the hazards of Chrysotile. (NIOSH, OSHA, EPA, IARC, WHO, CR, Epi Societies)

8. As a practical matter, what would a tissue burden analysis mean if required:
Fewer people compensated
Disturbances of buried bodies
Possible bizarre requirements (like dose reconstructions)

9. We do not use this kind of false proof for other malignancies – cigarettes and its chemicals, radiation in tissue, arsenic, etc.

10. The “Science for Sale” people would win!

11. We still need to push for a complete ban.