In
a scientific and technical report published in June 1985, Dr. G.T. Commins
of Commins Associates (Great Britain) compiled a table to comparative
risk values for selected situation in daily life. Dr. Commins table
confirms the extremely low risk associated with asbestos
in the environment.
|
Selected Risk Situations (Mainly U.S. data)
|
|
Effect
|
|
Lifetime risk (per 100,000)
|
| |
|
|
|
|
| Extra High Risk |
|
|
|
|
| Smoking |
|
Death(all causes) |
|
21900 |
|
Smoking
|
|
Cancer only
|
|
8800
|
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
| High Risk |
|
|
|
|
|
Motor vehicle (U.S.A 1975)
|
|
Death
|
|
1600
|
| |
| Elevated Risk |
|
|
|
|
| Frequent airline passenger |
|
Death |
|
730 |
| Cirrhosis of liver; moderate drinker |
|
Death |
|
290 |
| Motor accident pedestrians (U.S.A.1975) |
|
Death |
|
290 |
| Sking 40 hours per year |
|
Death |
|
220 |
| |
|
Moderate Risk
|
|
|
|
|
| Light drinker one beer per day |
|
Cancer |
|
150 |
| Drowning; all recreational causes |
|
Death |
|
140 |
| Air pollution(U.S.A.), benzo(a) pyrene |
|
Cancer |
|
110 |
| Natural background radiation, sea level |
|
Cancer |
|
110 |
| Frequent airline passenger, cosmic rays
|
|
Cancer |
|
110 |
| |
|
Selected Risk Situations (Mainly U.S. data)
|
|
Effect
|
|
Lifetime risk (per 100,000)
|
| |
| Low Risk |
|
|
|
|
| Home accident (U.S.A.1975) |
|
Death |
|
88 |
| Cycling |
|
Death |
|
75 |
| Person sharing room with smoker |
|
Cancer |
|
75 |
| Diagnostic X-Rays (U.S.A.) |
|
Cancer |
|
75 |
| (Risk level where few would commit their own resources
to reduce risk; Royal Society, London 1983) |
|
Death or Injury |
|
70 |
| |
|
Very Low Risk
|
|
|
|
|
| Person living in brick building additional natural
radiation |
|
Cancer |
|
35 |
| Vaccination for smallpox, per occasion |
|
Death |
|
22 |
| One transcontinental air flight per year |
|
Death |
|
22 |
| Saccharin average U.S.A. consumption |
|
Cancer |
|
15 |
| Consuming Miami or New Orleans drinking water |
|
Cancer |
|
7 |
| (Risk level where very few would consider action
necessary unless clear casual links with consumer products; Royal
Society London 1983) |
|
Death or Injury |
|
7 |
| |
|
Selected Risk Situations (Mainly U.S. data)
|
|
Effect
|
|
Lifetime risk (per 100,000)
|
| |
| Extremely Low "Rare- Event" Risk |
|
|
|
|
| One transcontinental air flight per year natural
radiation |
|
Cancer |
|
4 |
| Lightning |
|
Death |
|
3 |
| Hurricane |
|
Death |
|
3 |
| Charcoal broiled steak, one per week |
|
Cancer |
|
3 |
| ENVIRONMENTAL ASBESTOS RISK, 1985 Commins
report |
|
Cancer |
|
1 or less |
| World Health Organization for drinking water 1984
|
|
Cancer |
|
1 |
| (Further control not justified: Royal Society, London
1983) |
|
Death or Injury |
|
0.7 |
|
* Assuming a 73 year life-span.
**Excludes possible effects of smoking.
Commins B.T. : The Significance of Asbestos and Other Mineral
Fibres in Environmental Ambient Air, Maidenhead, Commins Associates
1985.
|
