§ Lord AVEBURYasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will extend the present survey into the link between asbestos and mesothelioma, being conducted by the MRC Penarth and the Mesothelioma Panel, sponsored by the International Agency for Research on Cancer of the World Health Organisation, to ascertain to what extent asbestos is associated with cancers of other organs of the respiratory and digestive systems, particularly cancer of the lung, stomach and bowel; and what additional resources of manpower, equipment and finance this survey would require.
The MINISTER of STATE, DEPARTMENT of EDUCATION and SCIENCE (Lord Donalsdon of Kingsbridge)The incidence of cancer of all sites of the body is already being investigated in prospective studies of several groups of workers exposed to asbestos dust. Qualitative and quantitative measures of asbestos exposure in relation to the occurrence of cancer in such sites as the lung, stomach and bowel are included in the mortality and morbidity study begun in 1971 by the Employment Medical Advisory Service. I am sending the noble Lord a copy of a paper about this study. The health risks arising from exposure to asbestos are to be reviewed by the recently established Advisory Committee on Asbestos whose report will be published in due course.