13:30 - 16:00,International Conference Hall
Plenary Session 2
Environmental Exposure, Crisis Preparedness and Risk Communication
Chairs: Mari Christine and Oshima Sumiko
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Iwao Uchiyama
Department of Urban and Environmental Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University, Japan
ABSTRACT
Although use of spray asbestos is already forbidden in Japan, it is worried that on the occasion of repair of the existing building or rebuilding, the asbestos currently used may disperse in environment. A guideline for scattering prevention of asbestos was released, but there have been some examples which the guideline is not observed.
Since care of works unsuitable in the case of extended construction of public "S nursery school" in Tokyo was performed in July, 1999, infant babies and children were exposed to asbestos during construction. At the beginning, since the information about the health effects by asbestos exposure was insufficient, their gurdians got confused and angry. After about 40 days of the occurrence of an incident, communication among guardians, administration, and two specialists was started, who are authority of health risk assessment and construction health each. A committee which works on a measure to health effects etc. formally after that was organized, and another specialist and a NPO representation which had recommended from the guardians also participated in the committee. The health risk of exposure to asbestos was estimated according to the exposure assessment simulated in the case of a repair work. Consequently, the most babies and children in the nursery school to whom the level of the lifetime cancer risk exceeds one person to 100,000 people is accepted. Therefore, it concluded that a committee should follow up the exposed children covering the whole life, and the new committee which added two guardians representation was launched.
Trials new as a local government -- all meeting of committees are exhibited and perform public hearing, an interim report, and a public comment -- were made. However, it is the points of issues that it took much time by reporting the conclusion, and that support organization like mental health consultation to a guardian was not able to be taken enough. Moreover, it will be more difficult for guardians when the children grows, how this affair's being explained to them.