title: Recent Scientific Evidence Regarding Asbestos Use and Health Consequences of Asbestos Exposure.
abstract: To justify the continuous use of two million tons of asbestos every year, it has been argued that a safe/controlled use can be achieved. The aim of this review was to identify recent scientific studies that present empirical evidence of: 1) health consequences resulting from past asbestos exposures and 2) current asbestos exposures resulting from asbestos use. Articles with evidence that could support or reject the safe/controlled use argument were also identified. A total of 155 articles were included in the review, and 87 % showed adverse asbestos health consequences or high asbestos exposures. Regarding the safe/controlled use, 44 articles were identified, and 82 % had evidence suggesting that the safe/controlled use is not being achieved. A large percentage of articles with evidence that support the safe/controlled use argument have a conflict of interest declared. Most of the evidence was developed in high-income countries and in countries that have already banned asbestos.
authors.affiliation: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Universidad de los Andes, Cra 1ª Este No. 19A-40, Bogotá, Colombia.
authors.forename: Manuela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Valenzuela
authors.affiliation: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Universidad de los Andes, Cra 1ª Este No. 19A-40, Bogotá, Colombia.
authors.forename: Margarita
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Giraldo
authors.affiliation: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Universidad de los Andes, Cra 1ª Este No. 19A-40, Bogotá, Colombia.
authors.forename: Sonia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gallo-Murcia
authors.affiliation: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Universidad de los Andes, Cra 1ª Este No. 19A-40, Bogotá, Colombia.
authors.forename: Juliana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pineda
authors.affiliation: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Universidad de los Andes, Cra 1ª Este No. 19A-40, Bogotá, Colombia.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.affiliation: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Universidad de los Andes, Cra 1ª Este No. 19A-40, Bogotá, Colombia. jramos@uniandes.edu.co.
authors.forename: Juan Pablo
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Ramos-Bonilla
mesh_terms: D017632:Asbestos, Serpentine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001195:Asbestosis; D002273:Carcinogens / Q000633:toxicity; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D008654:Mesothelioma / Q000453:epidemiology*; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D017632:Asbestos, Serpentine; D002273:Carcinogens
keywords: Asbestos; Conflict of interest; Safe/controlled use; Scientific evidence