We use a huge amount of ASBESTOS

We use a huge amount of ASBESTOS but we don't care about it, because "ASBESTOS is safe".

In Japan, approximately 180,000 tons of asbestos is being used every year. We are aware of its danger, but yet, seem not to do anything about it. Asbestos Product Companies claim that asbestos is safe if it is properly handled and utilized. Almost all Japanese appear to be passive to that claim.

Last spring, a concerned parent sent me an E-mail about a doubtful material that was sprayed on the steel frames under the ceiling of his child's kindergarten's playing hall. In that hall, children always played, sang, exercised and so on. Sometimes, material would detach itself and fall down from the frames, and then simply swept away with brooms by parents and teachers.

His skepticism led him to believe that the material in question might have been asbestos. He and other growing concerned parents were informed by the kindergarten's principal that the material actually contained asbestos, but the safe type of asbestos, which would cause absolutely no harm to the children. In order to inquire further about asbestos, the man accessed our web site.

That "safe type of asbestos", in question, refers to the white asbestos, was Chrysotile which was contained in Rockwool. Cases with incidents involving asbestos are still common and widespread in Japan today. We do not have enough knowledge nor information about asbestos to protect ourselves accordingly.

Asbestos Product Companies also claim that the asbestos cement product is safe, because asbestos is confined in it. However in demolition sites, workers do not have the adequate equipment for handling asbestos cement product. They often have little or no knowledge about asbestos and its effect.

Asbestos is still very present in our lives and affects us daily. More education and research about asbestos is needed.
(June.19.1998)

KAZUKO OUCHI－"ASUBESTO NI TUITE KANGAERU KAI"
(The Volunteer Asbestos Inspectors:" The citizen group to detect
the cause and the social background of asbestos problem in Japan.")
　　 E-mail: hepafil@po.across.or.jp
　　URL: http://plaza.across.or.jp/~hepafil/
We are sorry but the English site of our homepage is under construction.
It may take long time to be added. Until then, please send me an E-mail
if you need to have information about the asbestos problem in Japan.
We will welcome any kind of information concerning asbestos problem,
especially about the current situation in your country.
Thank you for reading this leaflet.

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