Asbestos in Asia
I'm recording a program for NHK today about asbestos. This summer, media has been reporting a lot about this problematic material. Known to cause cancer, why did it take so long for Japan to react?
On June 29, machinery maker Kubota Corp. acknowledged, in response to inquiries from Mainichi Shimbun, that 79 of its workers had died after contact with asbestos. Soon many other companies reported previously undisclosed fatalities.
"We should have banned asbestos sooner," Health, Labour, & Welfare Minister Hidehisa Otsuji told a parliamentary committee on August 3. Vice Environment Minister Hiroshi Takano, who also attended the committee meeting, said, "We are currently collecting information on asbestos-related problems via the prefectural governments." One estimate for the total death toll says it could reach 100,000 cases over the next 40 years.
NHK September 6 Radio Japan Focus (English version) The Health Dangers of Asbestos in Asia:
Health problems due to asbestos use are now making headlines in Japan but construction workers continue to use the substance in developing nations of Asia and elsewhere with probable health consequences for the future.
On June 29, machinery maker Kubota Corp. acknowledged, in response to inquiries from Mainichi Shimbun, that 79 of its workers had died after contact with asbestos. Soon many other companies reported previously undisclosed fatalities.
"We should have banned asbestos sooner," Health, Labour, & Welfare Minister Hidehisa Otsuji told a parliamentary committee on August 3. Vice Environment Minister Hiroshi Takano, who also attended the committee meeting, said, "We are currently collecting information on asbestos-related problems via the prefectural governments." One estimate for the total death toll says it could reach 100,000 cases over the next 40 years.
NHK September 6 Radio Japan Focus (English version) The Health Dangers of Asbestos in Asia:
Health problems due to asbestos use are now making headlines in Japan but construction workers continue to use the substance in developing nations of Asia and elsewhere with probable health consequences for the future.
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