Re: Using microscope to test for asbestos fibers

From: Gordon Couger (gcouger_at_NOSPAMprovalue.net)
Date: 07/21/04

  • Next message: jacques jedwab: "Re: Using microscope to test for asbestos fibers" 
    Date: Wed, 21 Jul 2004 03:52:59 -0500

    You are correct epidemiology is a statistical study of populations. It has
    no predictive value to the individual beyond the risk or odds of him having
    a problem. If you have the problem it is a 100% chance no matter what the
    risks are of you getting and if you remaining free of the problem you are
    free of it no matter how high the risks. That's not to say not to take
    precautions if you are in a high risk group for some problem you should. But
    weighing the risk of the problem with the risks of the protection from the
    problem are not always a clear cut decision.

    When gathered from human populations it is a difficult field of study becuse
    there are few autopsies. The many independent variables can't be know very
    well and people don't tell the truth in interviews.

    The problems are probably getting worse as the population is much more
    mobile so the subjects will have much more varied back grounds and genetics.
    Than did miners in 30's or even asbestos workers in the 60s. Where a lot of
    the labor came from the same area.

    Privacy laws may make epidemiology all but impossible if the current trend
    continues.

    Gordon
    "jacques jedwab" <jjedwab@ulb.ac.be> wrote in message
    news:jjedwab-2708561919010001@geochim-mac2.ulb.ac.be...
    > Epidemiology is a non-sense from the point of view of an individual,
    > either healthy (against all odds), or diseased from mesothelioma (in spite
    > of his benign professional life.)
    >
    > Detecting and counting asbestos fibres in the atmosphere is a precaution,
    > not an individual life insurance.
    >
    > J.J.
    >
    > In article <no.spam-62B52E.09180820072004@news.verizon.net>, Al
    > <no.spam@wanted.com> wrote:
    >
    > > In article <jjedwab-2708561351440001@geochim-mac2.ulb.ac.be>,
    > > jjedwab@ulb.ac.be (jacques jedwab) wrote:
    > >
    > > > Asbestos business is a serious one: one is playing with human
    > > > lives!...Downplaying the difficulty and expertise is foolish.
    > > >
    > >
    > > <big snip>
    > >
    > > Nonsense! It is the combination of tobacco smoke and asbestos fibers
    > > which is deadly. Asbestos by itself may be an irritant and may cause
    > > problems in some suseptible individuals. My father was friends with many
    > > people who worked with asbestos in NJ. The ones who got the cancer were
    > > also smokers. My father worked with asbestos and he did not die from any
    > > asebestos induced cancer; he was not a smoker.
    > >
    > > My father-in-law died from mesothelioma when in his 80's. He was a
    > > physician. he never smoked in his life, nor worked with asbestos. Luck
    > > of the draw.
    > >
    > > Al

  • Next message: jacques jedwab: "Re: Using microscope to test for asbestos fibers"

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