Asbestos-Related Disorders in Germany: Background, Politics, Incidence, Diagnostics and Compensation.

Xaver Baur

doi:10.3390/ijerph15010143

Abstract

There was some limited use of asbestos at end of the 19th century in industrialized countries including Germany, but its consumption dramatically increased after World War II. The increase in use and exposure was followed by the discovery of high numbers of asbestos-related diseases with a mean latency period of about 38 years in Germany. The strong socio-political pressure from the asbestos industry, its affiliated scientists and physicians has successfully hindered regulatory measures and an asbestos ban for many years; a restrictive stance that is still being unravelled in compensation litigation. This national experience is compared with the situation in other industrialized countries and against the backdrop of the constant efforts of the WHO to eliminate asbestos-related diseases worldwide.

Highlights

Germany does not have any asbestos mines and 95% of the imports was as chrysotile asbestos from Canada and Russia
The asbestos tragedy was allowed to happen in spite of the clear association between asbestos exposure and numerous illnesses that was substantiated by an overwhelming body of evidence
The asbestos industry is focussing on saving the reputation of chrysotile asbestos by promoting the false notion that it is safer than other forms of asbestos

Summary

Introduction

Germany does not have any asbestos mines and 95% of the imports was as chrysotile asbestos from Canada and Russia. There was a broad range of applications strongly dominated by the construction industry [2], without major differences in either use or regulations between the two German states that existed from 1946 until 1989. The objective of this article is to provide a review of the historic background behind the pandemic tragedy of asbestos disease by focussing on the German experience. This will consider the contribution of the stakeholders and a sustained opposition to preventative regulations, the final establishment of a comprehensive asbestos policy and the resulting German asbestos ban in 1993. A restricted compensation policy could be established, especially for asbestos-related lung cancer, without the need provide scientifically based justification

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Discussion

Conclusion