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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH HUMAN SERVICES Public Health Service

 

National Institutes of Health
National Cancer Institute
Bethesda. Maryland 20892

MAY -5 2009

Arthur L. Frank, M.D., 

Professor of Public Health

Chair, Department of Environmental and Occupational Health
Drexel University

Mail Stop 1034,

245 N. 15th Street

Philadelphia, 19102-1192

Dear Dr. Frank:

Thank you for your letter concerning the National Cancer Institute?s (NCI) fact sheet on
asbestos, specifically the language related to automobile mechanics and brake repair. The issues
raised in your letter have been discussed with expert on asbestos exposure and cancer
risk?Dr. Aaron Blair in the Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics. He has
recommended that the language in the fact sheet be amended, and that the references point to
government-sponsored expert groups when possible, instead of individual studies or reviews.

Based on his recommendation, I have asked our Office of Communications and Education to
replace the current language with this new statement that reflects the known carcinogenicity of
asbestos. The new version will read:

?Studies into the cancer risk experienced by automobile mechanics exposed to asbestos through
brake repair are limited, but the overall evidence suggests that there is no safe level for asbestos
exposure. (Citation: IARC, 1998; NTP, Report on Carcinogens, 11th ed. 2005.)?

In addition, we are eliminating the citations for both the Goodman and Laden papers on auto
mechanics.

I am grateful to you for bringing this matter to my attention. NCI strives to provide the most
accurate and up?to?date information.

        

.10 in .
Director
National Cancer Institute