Asbestos and environmental health in Japan

Because of concern over the adverse effects on health of asbestos, the amount of asbestos used annually in Japan, as in other industrialized countries, has gradually fallen since peaking in the late 1980s. The Japanese government has implemented strict safety controls on the use of asbestos in accordance with principles established by the International Labour Organization's "Safe use" policy of 1986. In contrast with the ever-decreasing use of asbestos, the use of glass, rockwool and ceramic products is on the increase. The subject of research into the health effects of mineral fibers has currently shifted from asbestos to substitute fibrous materials. The system for managing work environments are different from those existing in other countries. In this paper, we review the state of asbestos use, levels of fibers in workplaces and the general environment, and provide an overview of epidemiological research. Current topics involve the impact of the earthquake that struck the Kobe area on January 17, 1995, and the current trend of regulations.