How conflicted authors undermine the World Health Organization (WHO) campaign to stop all use of asbestos: spotlight on studies showing that chrysotile is carcinogenic and facilitates other non-cancer asbestos-related diseases

Abstract

The silicate mineral asbestos is categorized into two main groups based on fiber structure: serpentine asbestos (chrysotile) and amphibole asbestos (crocidolite, amosite, anthophyllite, tremolite, and actinolite). Chrysotile is used in more than 2 000 applications and is especially prevalent in the construction industry. Although its use is banned or restricted in more than 52 countries, an estimated 107 000 workers die from asbestos exposure each year, and approximately 125 million workers continue to be exposed. Furthermore, ambient exposures persist to which the public is exposed, globally. Today, the primary controversies regarding the use of asbestos are the potencies of different types of asbestos, as opposed whether or not asbestos causes morbidity and mortality. The asbestos industry has promoted and funded research based on selected literature, ignoring both clinical and scientific knowledge. In this piece, we highlight a prominent example of a conflicted publication that sought to undermine the World Health Organization (WHO) campaign to stop the use of all forms of asbestos, including chrysotile asbestos. Independent and rigorous scientific data provide sufficient evidence that chrysotile asbestos, like other forms of asbestos, is a cause of asbestos-related morbidity and premature mortality

Ethics, morality, and conflicting interests: how questionable professional integrity in some scientists supports global corporate influence in public health

“…Further examples of misleading reporting and misrepresentation of asbestos industry-funded research influencing public health regulations. The asbestos industry's funding of defective scientific studies to create the false impression that chrysotile asbestos can be used safely 9,17 and falsely stating that the World Health Organization supports the use of chrysotile asbestos in Zimbabwe. 18 These efforts have been well planned, financed, and supported for decades by the industry's scientific lobbyists (example in Ref.…”

“…18 These efforts have been well planned, financed, and supported for decades by the industry's scientific lobbyists (example in Ref. 9). These examples show how compromised science and medicine can lead to death, disease, disability, and dismemberment rather than their prevention.…”

“…trying to change the status quo weaken or eliminate regulatory protections), risk assessments, and public, environmental, and occupational health policy-makers. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9] Professional ethics and personal integrity, in addition to specialized competence, are vital to ensuring sound scientific research. However, conflicting interests may affect the ethics and morality of scientists engaging in such work.…”

Impacto Da Exposição Ao Amianto Na Saúde Da População Adulta: Revisão Integrativa

“…Todas as classes de amianto são prejudiciais em qualquer nível de exposição (10) , inclusive o crisotila, comercializado em diversos países (11) . Os estudos apontam as doenças provocadas pela exposição e o câncer lidera o ranking, entre eles: o de pulmão, mesotelioma pleural, peritoneal, pericárdio (câncer raro e fatal associado em 80% com a exposição) (12) .…”

Asbestos-Related Research: First Objectivity then Conclusions

“…Moreover, the current Mt-and asbestos-related research is not free from bias. This is, predominately due to industrial interests, particularly the promotion of chrysotile interfering with objectivity in some studies ISSN: 2471-4879 [90]. The quality of research and reviewing should be taken into account defining inclusion criteria for studies into meta-analyses and systematic reviews.…”