File 2 - 'A critique of fibre analysis techniques'

3 folders
Paper

From a blue box file inscribed 'EM'

Correspondence and papers re Nancy Tait's critique of the fibre analysis approach, citing from Dr Allen R Gibbs' testimony to coroners, OEDA's EM findings contradicting those of Gibbs, and explaining that in view of the unreliability of standard fibre analysis techniques, OEDA no longer attempts to calculate the number of fibres present in lung tissue. Includes

• various drafts of OEDA statement 'A critique of fibre analysis techniques' (March 2000) including illustrative materials, among it a nuclepore filter and gold grid; a sample of lung tissue digest has been disposed of in line with the Archives Service's appraisal policy
• letter from occupational health expert Dr Morris Greenberg on 'the importance of fibre that doesn't get to the lung parenchyma ... in the causation of bronchial carcinoma'
• correspondence with Dr M E Jacobsen, 1998, outlining OEDA’s fibre counting approach (based on 10 years experience using the EM) and asking about statistical arguments that could be used to discourage reliance on counts in lung tissue
• post mortem and other medical information on individuals 1995-1999
• copy of ISO 10312:1995 ‘Ambient air - Determination of asbestos fibres - Direct transfer transmission electron microscopy method’
• copies of letters by Dr A R Gibbs

Restricted in compliance with the UK General Data Protection Regulation and the Data Protection Act 1998.

• English