38 - Wednesday, November 13, 1985 - North Shore News Asbestos link to cancer blurred THE presence or absence of a particular type of lung tumor has frequently been used in court as evidence as to whether a worker’s lung cancer was caused by asbestos exposure. Now a British Columbia pathologist has compiled evidence that this argument is unfounded scientifically and should not be used in legal disputes over whether asbestos caused a particular lung tumor. There are at least 150,000 newly-diagnosed cases of lung cancer each year in North America. A wave of lawsuits in courts in the U.S. and Canada has come from cancer victims who think their tumors might have been caused by asbestos ex- posure in the workplace. Both defence and prosecu- tion have used legal argu- ments hinging on whether the victim ‘has adenocar- cinoma — a gland-forming type of tumor that secretes mucus and that is commonly believed to result from asbestos exposure. Dr. Andrew Churg, associate professor and head of Anatomic Pathology at the Health Science Centre Hospital of the University of British Columbia, examined the data from eight scientific reports describing lung cancer types in asbestos- exposed and non-exposed workers to see if adenocar- cinoma reajly was associated with asbestos exposure. Dr. Churg says almost every article and textbook dealing with occupational FALL PREVIEW OF FASHION *SWEATERS © SKIRTS ° DRESSES * PANTS ¢ JEWELLERY ° ACCESSORIES SAVE 20% ON ALL REGULARLY PRICED MERCHANDISE WITH THIS COUPON SAVE 40-50% ON ALL SUMMER FASHIONS atunstyies 260 W. Esplanade NOV. 16 VOTE EXPERIENCE lung disease assumes that adenocarcinoma is the most frequent type seen in workers exposed to asbestos. But when Dr. Churg assessed the data, which rep- resented more than 400 asbestos-exposed and 1,000 non-exposed Jung cancer vic- tims, he found no significant difference in the occurrence of adenocarcinoma or other lung cancers between the two groups. There are some slight dif- ferences in the rates of dif- ferent cancers, but net enough to say whether some PLING COURT HOTEL introducing... Sunday Brunch @ the newest and finest dining experience in Vancouver ® internacional cuisine ¢ elegant decor * complimentary underground parking © $12.95 for adults and $6.95 for children For reservations phone 685-1311 1160 Davie Street, Vancouver, B.C. : Mister Leonard | Capilano Mall 980-6817 Open Sundays 12:00-5:00 are asbestos-related and some are not, Dr. Churg says. These differences may in part result from dif- ferences in diagnoses and in sources of the tissues tested, he adds. peal ace 2 1. Opus Sitting 2Z.Opus Yuppy Dr. Churg concludes that all types of lung cancer can occur in asbestos workers and that cancer type cannot be used as an argument for or against causation by asbestos exposure. 3.0pus 4. Opus Standing BLOOM COUNTY FANS! Join the Opus crowd Opus the lovable becomes Opus the huggable. These plush penguins make the perfect gift. Just clip the coupon below. 1 Opus Sitting 8 3/4” Tall $1050 2 Opus Yuppy 12” Tal $24.50 Opus 12” Tall $18.56 4 Opus Standing 8 4/2" Tall $9.50 Check One: VBA’ __: — Use your credit Add 7% BC. Tax Add $185 Card # Postage - Valid Date Exp Date Signature (Allow 10-14 days for delivery) Ve ss ese beenaria antzint C208? re Te SCOTCH WHISKY “White Label! dohn Dewar & Sons Ld. PERTH SCOTLAND ECOSSE DISTILLE EY EmsoUTEILLE EN ECOSSE OISTILLED AND BOTTLED IN SCOTLAND 750 mi Breen g 40% alc./vol.