[Risk of cancer in locations containing asbestos: myth or reality?].

The risk of cancer induced by asbestos is proportional to the 'dose' inhaled (level X duration of exposure). Airborne asbestos fibre concentrations in buildings with sprayed asbestos insulation are very low. The estimation of life-long risk of cancer for people working continuously in this kind of buildings was made according to the Hughes and Weill's model. The lung cancer and mesothelioma mortality increase, attributable to asbestos, would be less than 0.1%, which means less than one death by century for all employees working in these buildings, in Switzerland. On the other hand, maintenance employees lying electric cables, pipes, etc., inside the asbestos-containing sprayed insulation, or workers transforming or pulling down these buildings, may be exposed to high asbestos fibre levels and should wear protective equipment.