Episode XI - A Gentle Word of Caution

This morning I attended and gave evidence at the coroner’s inquest into my father’s death. After the various facts of the case were heard, submissions from the medical professionals and my own recollections of his working life the coroner found that he had died from an ‘industrial injury’. As some of my network may already know he suffered mesothelioma lung cancer resulting from exposure to Asbestos.

Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that has a number of useful properties including tensile strength and good resistance to heat and fire. Asbestos mining on an industrial scale started in the late 19^th century and by the 1920’s there were rising levels of concern about its safety. During the 1980s and 90s many countries either heavily restricted its use or completely banned it. One of the more horrible aspects of this chemical is that once the dust is in the lungs can effectively lay dormant for decades, around 40 years in my father’s case, and then spring into action giving the sufferer sometimes only months to live. And folks, it is not a pleasant way to go. In 2015 there were 2597 NEW cases of mesothelioma in the UK and it has around a 95% mortality rate. This from something that we thought would protect us, in our homes, offices and public buildings. Remember the gray heat  tray on old ironing boards? Yep, asbestos.

This whole chapter of my life has made me wonder, what things will our society look back on in years to come and wonder ‘how we did not know?’. Is there another asbestos lurking now that will only become apparent at a later date? With hindsight it seems ridiculous to think about makeup containing huge quantities of lead, petrol with lead, brewing beer to clean water, laudanum and a long list of other dangerous activities could be a part of normal daily life. But they were accepted. Normal.

We live in an era of ever accelerating deployment of new and emerging technology, cultural norms and materials. The children of my generation will be the first to have not known a world without mobile technology, the connectivity of the internet, self driving cars, robots, AI and all the other new and exciting frontiers being pushed. Having spent my career working with technology I firmly believe that our brave new silicon world will bring benefits to us and planet that we can hardly imagine. It is a very exciting time to be alive.

But a word of caution. Last week the UK government issued notice that they intend to regulate social media platforms and their interaction with children in an effort to reduce the risk of mental health issues arising from over exposure or possible addiction. WhatsApp has just announced that there is going to be a minimum age limit on using the App, although I’m not sure how it can be practically enforced. Good news. But I think this bit of gate closing comes several years after the horse has bolted.

Are we now seeing the embyo of a more considered approach to the application of this tech? I hope so as I would never want mistakes in cultural, political, individual or collective safety to hinder the advance of good science and development. I think Dr. Ian Malcom, the sinewy mathematician in Jurassic Park said it best ‘Your scientists were so preoccupied with whether they could, they didn't stop to think if they should.’.

In the race to benefit and profit from the science and technology we now have, I think that we should always remember those basic principles of good practice, process and review. Sometimes a little frustrating to have to test and re-test and then test the test. To listen to and document many different opinions and points of view with an open mind and maintain a real culture of quality and its application in everything we develop.

Sometimes the most insignificant things can be of such huge importance in the dim, distant future.

If you can, please donate something to one or both of these charities. They are truly beautiful people.

https://www.hasag.co.uk
https://www.mariecurie.org.uk