Researcher Says Asbestos Outlook Too Optimistic
Mark Clements, a researcher from Australian National University, says that many more people will likely die from asbestos-related diseases than was previously estimated. While previous estimates have suggested that the number of mesothelioma cases will peak in 2010, Clements says he thinks the peak will occur in 2010. Clements also believes that the number of cases will be 35 percent higher than previous estimates.
If Clements is correct, there could be great consequences for liability and compensation claims. "Other work done by actuaries predicts 2010. It's not clear whether they made the assumption that it would peak at 2010, which I think is quite commonly held or whether they just found that it was then, so it's not entirely clear why the two models are reaching different conclusions," says Clements.
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