Thirty years after the Great Hanshin Earthquake, why are people developing cancer now? Inhaling asbestos in disaster-stricken areas

Mainichi Shimbun

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Thirty years after the Great Hanshin Earthquake, why are people developing cancer now? Inhaling asbestos in disaster-stricken areas

Thirty years have passed since the Great Hanshin Earthquake in January 1995. It may seem like a thing of the past, but the damage caused by the carcinogenic asbestos is actually a "current problem." This is because asbestos that was dispersed from the damaged buildings has now passed its incubation period and is now at the stage where it is most likely to cause cancer. Moreover, safety measures at the time were extremely poor.