US STANDARD ASBESTOS CHECKS UNCOVERS 'UNUSED' ASBESTOS IN JAPAN
The theory was that three lethal forms of asbestos: tremolite, anthophyllite and actinolite, were not to be found anywhere in Japan, however, one of this deadly trio - tremolite - has been found in three locations, one of which is a nursery school. The discovery raises the possibility that tremolite has been widely used in Japan as a building material. Earlier this month, it was learned that surveys by municipal governments had found the three types at eight public facilities in Tokyo, Chiba and Niigata.
The problem has arisen because many asbestos inspections have not checked for these three forms of asbestos, believing that none of them have ever been used in Japan. The worry now is that use has been widespread. In all three cases, the tremolite had been contained in spray-on wall coatings. Concentrations of tremolite in the sprays used hit 60 percent at the nursery, 20 percent at the condominium and 7 to 10 percent at the office building. In all three cases, the tremolite was found during inspections conducted before demolition or alteration work and all of these inspections were undertaken by foreign companies who worked to US standards.
Worrying for Japan but reassuring for the US.