ARisk Assessment of Asbestos Pollution in Residential Environment

• Published in: ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE Vol. 4; no. 2; pp. 79 - 101
• Main Author: MURAYAMA, Takehiko
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Japanese
• Published: SOCIETY OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE, JAPAN 1991
• Subjects: risk assessment, asbestos pollution, residential environment, risk evaluation
• ISSN: 0915-0048; 1884-5029
• DOI: 10.11353/sesj1988.4.79

In this paper, the author assessed the risk induced by asbestos pollution in residential environment through a constructed analytical framework. The author put in order the information on the risk, surveyed change of consumption levels in various contries, and compared social attitudes on the risk between Japan and the US. Investigating the situation of asbestos use in Japan, the author identified process of the pollution, estimated exposure level and population in each area characterized by types of sources. Lifetime risk was estimated about 2.5 x 10-4 in residential environment where pollution source is not specified, in case that concentration level shifts at present level. The author evaluated the risk induced by asbestos pollution. The findings are the following three points. First, the risk is the same level as railway or bicycle accident at 50% point of risk distribution. Second, cost to reduce the risk is less than 95% point risk converted into monetary value with adjusted discount rate of less than 2%. Third, annual death rate reduced by measures against the risk on pollution by sprayed asbestos is 1/1000 less than that against pedestrian traffic accident, but effectiveness to reduce the risk per cost is the same order between the two.