NATION IN BRIEF : TEXAS : Asbestos Concerns Valid, Panel Warns

Scientists at a national conference on asbestos said people should be somewhat skeptical of new claims that asbestos, used for years in buildings as a fire retardant and insulation, is not as dangerous as has been claimed. Research in the 1960s found that inhaling the fibrous mineral increases the risk of developing lung cancer. Articles published in the past year in some medical journals and science magazines played down the risks associated with asbestos. But panelists at the National Asbestos Conference in San Antonio said the articles should be viewed with caution, that evidence from recent studies indicates asbestos exposure does pose health risks and that more studies are needed.