As of the date of release of the new Asbestos Statement by the Joint Policy Committee of the Societies of Epidemiology, and compared to previous policy documents, it appears that record numbers of organizations and individuals have endorsed the new statement. According to Kathleen Ruff, a Canadian asbestos activist who helped to prepare for the release of the statement, 57 separate organizations from 20 countries have endorsed it. And at last count before this publication went to press, over 80 persons had signed on as individuals.

Response

Included among the high profile organizations endorsing the statement are the American Public Health Association, the Canadian Cancer Society, the Canadian Medical Association, the Canadian Public Health Association, and Collegium Ramazzini. The roster of organizational endorsers includes not only these health and professional groups, but trade unions, civil society organizations, and victims groups as well. These endorsers are located in Argentina, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, France, India, Iceland, Italy, Japan, Lebanon, Mexico, Philippines, Scotland, South Africa, The Netherlands, UK, and USA.

Triggers

Asked what caused the large number of early endorsers from so many separate sectors of society, Ruff told The Epidemiology Monitor there are several reasons. First of all, she said many have felt a need to do this to counter the denial, misinformation, and deception created by the asbestos industry. The statement is not abstract and bites the bullet on this, she said, because it deals with the real world and states why more progress has not been made in reducing the two million tons of asbestos traded each year. Second, she said the statement has all the up to date science on the topic and it is “completely overwhelming and irrefutable.” She said it re-establishes the paramount importance of science over political expediency.

Third, while there are no breakthroughs in terms of the information presented, it pulls everything together from many different scientific disciplines. Finally, asbestos is traded everywhere and is a global issue. There is widespread awareness about asbestos and this made it possible for a large number of groups to endorse quickly.

On Epidemiologists

According to Ruff, the activist community around asbestos has developed “enormous respect for the epidemiologists doing this” statement. While not victims themselves, epidemiologists have seen the harm being caused and they are taking responsibility to try to prevent the harm, she said. The statement has been seen as “outstanding leadership”, and the activist community is deeply grateful to the scientists, she added.

To support her point, Ruff quoted Matt Myers, President of Tobacco Free Kids, from an article in last month’s issue of The Epidemiology Monitor who said that “…in epidemiology and public health it is rarely enough to produce science and assume that change will happen. Change requires leaders, leadership, dedication, and sustained commitment…unless individuals and scientists feel strongly enough about the need to translate evidence into action or policy, then it won’t happen.”

About Victims

She told the Monitor that many victims have a very hard time being listened to and have no real voice. She said many governments have put political interests ahead of health, and now victims will know that their life is worth something. She called the statement “inspiring and a landmark” coming at a critical time, especially in Asia where industry intimidation and lobbying is now being felt.

Potential Impact

Asked if she thought the statement would really make a difference, Ruff told the Epidemiology Monitor that she is hopeful. Every little bit counts, she said, and it will add to the momentum now building to eliminate the use of asbestos. As a person respected in Canada and internationally as a human rights advocate, Ruff said this statement reinforces that everyone has a right to health and that no lives are disposable.