Launch of Asbestos Research Group for Comprehensive Measures in Japan

Takehiko Murayama

ABAN2013November 23, 2013

Change of cumulative consumption

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000

Cummulative Consumption [10000 tons] US

Germany

Japan

UKItalyFranceAustralia

Calculated based on the data of USGS (2003)

Change of Mesothelioma deaths in Japan

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Nov. 3, 2013Mainichi Newspaper

Fig.2 Annual change of asbestos consumption in Japan(Source: data from import statistics of the Ministry of Finance and Japan

Asbestos Association (2003))

Background and Purpose

• Research group on mesothelioma since 1993– Mainly medical doctors– Annual meeting

• Collaboration with other various fields to implement comprehensive measures including building materials

• Insufficient information sharing among different fields on asbestos issues

• Inter-disciplinary research activities so as to contribute actual measures

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Expected activities and research fields

• Main activities– Annual meeting– Information sharing with social media– Model: Jonson conference in the US

• Possible research fields– Medical issues– Investigation, analysis and maintenance of buildings– Removal and waste management– Policy, History and social issues

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The first meeting

• Date: January 26-27, 2013• Venue: Tokyo Institute of Technology• Participants: about 140

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Composition of participants

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Survey & anaslysis

academia

Officials of National and local govsMedia

Consultants

Lawyers

Removal contractors

Construction companies

NPOs

Topics of keynote talks

• Asbestos in view of mineralogy and definition of asbestos

• Way of thinking on risk• Asbestos issue as a toxic substance

management• Necessity of inter-disciplinary research

for comprehensive measures

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Const-ruction

Textile

Frictions

Const-ruction

Insulation

Products

MotorVehicle

O&Mof building

Use ofproducts

Vehicleoperation

O&M of vehicle

Impact to occupational environment

Impact to Non-occupational environment

Mine

Waste

& R

ecy

cle

MaterialsProducts

Use & Maintenance

Demolition

Sub topic (1)

• Asbestos related diseases and risk evaluation– Diagnosis– Meta-analysis of epidemiological studies on lung

cancer• Survey and analysis

– Asbestos investigator of buildings authorized by national government

– Analysis of asbestos in building materials• Maintenance and removal

– Issues on removal measures– Measurement of contamination during demolition

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Sub Topic (2)

• Waste– TEM analysis of asbestos on thermal processing of

asbestos materials– Current situation and issues of waste

management

• Activities of national government on waste management– Waste management by Ministry of the

Environment

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Sub topic (3)

• Earthquake– Hanshin-Awaji in 1995– Great East Japan in 2011

• Activities of local governments– Chiyoda ward of Tokyo– Amagasaki City

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Sab topic (4)

• Policy issues– Current situation and issues on policies of national

and local governments– Overseas surveys

• Historical reviews on asbestos issues– History on Japanese industries– Composition of members of committees on

asbestos issues– Role of Japan Asbestos Association

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Def. of asbestosDef. of asbestos MeasurementMeasurement

ContaminationContaminationMedical check Medical check

Risk evaluationRisk evaluation

EarthquakeEarthquake

Future environmental impactsFuture environmental impacts

Historical reviewHistorical review

Identification of victims, Compensation and LitigationIdentification of victims, Compensation and Litigation

Policy implementation(National, Local)

Policy implementation(National, Local)

Fore

ign

cou

ntrie

s (advance

d, R

ising, D

evelo

pin

g )

Fore

ign

cou

ntrie

s (advance

d, R

ising, D

evelo

pin

g )

OccupationalExposure

Non-occupationalExposure

Monitoring & measures

Monitoring & measures

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Lessons from the 1st meeting and challenges for the future activities

• Too many topics to discuss for two days

• Relationship with stakeholders such as governments and private companies conducting abatement measures

• International collaboration

-> the 2nd meeting on Feb. 1st and 2nd, 2014 19

Website of this grouphttp://www.tm.depe.titech.ac.jp/

Asbestos_Research_Group/index.html

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Ratio the number of mesothelioma between 2011 and 2012

Male Female

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発起人・運営委員• 発起人

– 淡路剛久（立教大学名誉教授、環境法）– 井内康輝（広島大学名誉教授、病理学）– 宇野泰章（名古屋工業大学名誉教授、鉱物学）– 酒井伸一（京都大学教授、廃棄物関係）– 宮本憲一（大阪市立大学名誉教授、環境政策）– 村山武彦（東京工業大学教授、リスク管理論 )– 森田昌敏（愛媛大学客員教授、化学物質管理）

• 運営委員– 石原一彦（立命館大学、建築学）– 貴田晶子（愛媛大学、廃棄物管理）– 小坂浩（元兵庫県健康環境化学研究センター、大気汚染防止）– 寺園淳（国立環境研究所、震災・廃棄物管理）– 森裕之（立命館大学、公共政策）– 山本貴士（国立環境研究所、資源環境） 23