Experts Speak on Asbestos: Beware the motives of people who support asbestos

(Transcript)

The only scientists who claim that the problem is still not resolved are scientists who are working... who are being paid to support these kinds of pseudo-controversies. They are like hit men in science.

The only reasons for a government to say that there is no conclusive evidence is if they are trying to maintain the industry against the better health of their citizenry.

If there is anyone being asked to consider continuing or heaven help us increasing the use of asbestos, there is no economic incentive for your country that would make this a rational decision. It may benefit an individual company or an individual, it may have some short term economic effects. But in the long term, since there is disease caused by asbestos, the long term costs to your society for taking care of lung cancer cases, mesothelioma cases, other cancers, asbestosis, is going to be a cost borne in your society -- perhaps not by the same industries that will be causing the disease but certainly by the health establishment in your country, and family by family as workers get disease, the price to be paid will be borne directly by those families. There's the old phrase of doing what's called a 'cost benefit analysis' and one should always remember who is getting the benefit but who is also paying the cost -- and if they are not the same then that should be taken into consideration because workers and individuals should not be preyed upon, and have asbestos -- a known carcinogen -- put into their environment where it will cause them harm, disease and death.