Lung Cancer and Mesothelioma – Facing the Challenge!

On May 13, 2008, the Kent and Medway Cancer Network is holding the 4th annual event focusing on the issues of Lung Cancer and Mesothelioma. The venue is the David Salomons House in Tunbridge Wells. The agenda, which is oriented towards medical professionals, will feature presentations on lung cancer causation and diagnosis, mesothelioma symptom control, therapeutic interventions, CXR, CT and PET imaging, surgery and the changing role of the Clinical Nurse.

For more information contact: Frances McKay, Macmillan Lung/Mesothelioma Nurse Specialist on 01634-825212 or Caroline Williams, Macmillan Lung Cancer Nurse Specialist on 01634-825391.

Liverpool Conference: Asbestos & the Law

This CPD-Law Society accredited conference will be held at the Merseyside Maritime Museum, Albert Dock in Liverpool on June 10, 2008 by the Merseyside Asbestos Victims Support Group. Invited speakers include: Barristers Carl Money & Chris Melton, Professor Tom Treasure, Solicitor Andrew McDonald and Radiologist Dr. Entwistle. For more information, contact John Flanagan at 0151 236 1895 or by email: gfr15@dial.pipex.com

Asbestos Summer Course in Spain

From July 7-11, 2008, a course entitled Asbestos: A Silent Epidemic is being organized by the Confederación Sindical de Comisiones Obreras, one of Spain's largest trade unions, in Santander, Northern Spain. Lading experts on a range of subject areas will be taking part in the program; the topics under discussion will include a quantification of the legal, medical and environmental impact the widespread use of asbestos has had in Spain. The goals of the course include:

• Ending the silence about the national epidemic of asbestos-related disease
• Analyzing the political, legal and social responsibilities for this epidemic
• Identifying initiatives for dealing with installed asbestos, monitoring at-risk populations and supporting asbestos victims

The venue for this event is the University of Cantabria; all lectures and discussion will be in Spanish. For more information, please see:
http://www.unican.es/WebUC/cverano/Cursos/Sedes/det_curso.asp?p_anualidad=2008&p_id=1339

Critical Issues in Monitoring Asbestos

From July 14-18, 2008 a range of issues will be discussed at the ASTM Johnson Conference in Burlington, Vermont. The event will focus on:

• Regulation vs. risk assessment
• The analysis of asbestos in soils
• Devising conventions for distinguishing asbestos fibers from cleavage fragments
• Quality assurance and monitoring applications

For more information see: http://www.astm.org/MEETINGS/COMMIT/d22conf.htm

XVIII World Congress on Safety and Health at Work

From June 29-July 2, 2008, the world's largest international event on occupational safety and health will take place in Seoul, Korea. During the conference, jointly organized by the International Labor Organization, the International Social Security Association and the Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency, three asbestos symposia will take place: Asbestos - A Global Disaster; ILO and WHO Action Towards the Elimination of Asbestos-Related Diseases; Asbestos: International Trade Union Campaign on Eliminating Asbestos Use and Preventing Asbestos Diseases. For more information, see the website: http://www.safety2008korea.org/eng/

International Mesothelioma Interest Group (IMIG) Conference, Holland

The 2008 IMIG Conference will take place from September 25-27 at the Netherlands Cancer Institute, Antoni van Leeuwenhoek Hospital in Amsterdam. The Dutch organizers of the 9th IMIG Conference hope that this international gathering will continue IMIG's tradition of providing mesothelioma researchers the opportunity to consider recent discoveries on the genetics, epidemiology, biology, pathology and clinical treatment of mesothelioma. Within the auspices of the IMIG event, a joint meeting with the European Association on Cardio-Thoracic Surgery will be held.

For more information, please see: http://imig-online.com/

Asbestos Workshop in Chania, Greece

During October 1-3, 2008 a Workshop on Asbestos Management will be one of many sessions within the proceedings of the Hazardous Waste Management Conference; this international event is being organized by a consortium of educational institutions from Greece, Italy and Germany in collaboration with the International Waste Working Group, a European think tank working on waste issues.

More information is available at the website: http://www.hwm1.tuc.gr/

South African Asbestos Conference

A important conference "Major Issues of Concern regarding Asbestos in South Africa: a ten year Review after the National Asbestos Summit of 1998" is being held in Midrand, South Africa on October 14 & 15, 2008. The convenor of this event is the Kgalagadi Relief Trust which is working with other organizations and sponsors to bring this project to fruition. The goals of the conference include:

• reviewing what has been achieved regarding the recommendations made by the 1998 National Asbestos Summit
• assessing the current challenges of the country's asbestos legacy
• developing proposals for meeting these challenges

A call for papers has been made to interested parties; all abstracts must be submitted by June 15, 2008. For more information on this event, please see: the website of the Kgalagadi Relief Trust:http://www.asbestostrust.co.za/