News
Asbestos related disease investigated
Mr Chris Fry discussesthe dangers of the asbestos-based disease mesothelioma and the possible origins of this form of cancer in dental professionals. He says he first became interested in asbestos related disease in dentistry after reading an obituary published in the BDJ.He says that most of the cases of asbestos related illnesses he has seen at his firm of solicitors have been for people who worked as commercial plumbers, pipe fitters or foundry men.He said 'The thought of an asbestos risk in the dental profession was new to me, and I wanted to know the extent of the danger to my friends and family. My research shows that there is a significant risk to a small but probably identifiable proportion of dentists, technicians and nurses who trained with and used various periodontal powders in the 1960s and 1970s.
Mr Fry added that there are different forms of asbestos related disease and not all are deadly, so his paper should be regarded as an 'early warning' notice that if any readers remember being engaged in similar working practices and begin to develop shortness of breath for no obvious reason, they should seek immediate advice

British Dental Journal 206, 512 (2009