David N. Weissman, M.D. Testimony before Senate Committee Regarding the Health Effects of Asbestos

Statement on asbestos by David N. Weissman, M.D., Director, Division of Respiratory Disease Studies National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Centers for Disease Control and Prevention U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Before the Committee on Environment and Public Works, United States Senate Tuesday, June 12, 2007

Madam Chair and Members of the Committee, I am Dr. David Weissman, and I direct the Division of Respiratory Disease Studies in the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), a part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). NIOSH is the federal agency responsible for conducting research and making recommendations to identify and prevent work-related illness and injury. I am also a pulmonary diseases physician, and over the last 20 years have seen firsthand the human suffering caused by asbestos.

Thank you for the opportunity to provide testimony on the health effects of asbestos and efforts by NIOSH to address this important problem.

My testimony today will address current scientific knowledge about the health risks posed by exposure of workers to airborne asbestos. I will also provide an update on NIOSH’s recent activities in this area, including NIOSH efforts to define key areas for research as described in the draft NIOSH document released in February for public comment, Asbestos and Other Mineral Fibers: A Roadmap for Scientific Research.

Courtesy of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS): http://www.hhs.gov/asl/testify/2007/06/t20070612c.html

Courtesy of EPA

Other helpful links:

Asbestos Asbestos
Asbestos and lung cancer Asbestos and lung cancer
Mesothelioma attorney Mesothelioma attorney
Mesothelioma Lawyer Mesothelioma lawyer
Asbestos attorney Asbestos attorney