Investigators and Program Directors

Research Interests

Some authorities estimate that 30,000 to 50,000 premature deaths resulted from exposure to asbestos in New York State during the 20^th century. Although asbestos concentrations in the environment and workplace have been drastically reduced in the last quarter century, premature deaths will continue well into the 21^st century because of the extensive latency period between time of exposure and onset of illness. This enormous latency period has also made it impossible to determine "safe" levels of exposure. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), the sole instrument for accurate measurement of airborne asbestos, did not become available before the last quarter of the 20^th century. Consequently, airborne asbestos concentrations were not measured back when high exposures led to the current crest of manifested illnesses.

Our laboratory has recently devised a multidisciplinary approach to reconstruct historical airborne asbestos concentrations. Paleolimnology, particle separation techniques, TEM, and empirical aerosol models were combined to produce retrospective airborne concentrations of rare and common asbestos types. These airborne concentrations correlated significantly with published production of these minerals since the late 19^th century. Future research efforts will focus on geographic areas where highly elevated incidences of mesothelioma have been caused by environmental exposure to asbestos. Correlations of resultant airborne concentrations and incidence of mesothelioma should provide the first quantitative risk factors for asbestos exposure.

Contact Information

Phone: (518) 474-0009
Fax: (518) 473-2895
E-mail: webber@wadsworth.org.