Asbestos is still with us: repeat call for a universal ban

Abstract

All forms of asbestos are proven human carcinogens. All forms of asbestos cause malignant mesothelioma, lung, and laryngeal cancers, and may cause ovarian, gastrointestinal and other cancers. No exposure to asbestos is without risk, and there is no safe threshold of exposure to asbestos. Asbestos cancer victims die painful lingering deaths. These deaths are almost entirely preventable. When evidence of the carcinogenicity of asbestos became incontrovertible, the concerned parties, including the Collegium Ramazzini, called for a universal ban on the mining, manufacture and use of asbestos in all countries around the world [1]. Asbestos is now banned in 52 countries [2], and safer products have replaced many materials that once were made with asbestos. Nonetheless, a large number of countries still use, import, and export asbestos and asbestos-containing products. And in many countries that have banned other forms of asbestos, the so-called "controlled use" of chrysotile asbestos continues to be permitted, an exemption that has no basis in medical science but rather reflects the political and economic influence of the asbestos mining and manufacturing industry. To protect the health of all people in the world -industrial workers, construction workers, women and children, now and in future generations -the Collegium Ramazzini calls again today on all countries of the world, as we have repeatedly in the past, to join in the international endeavor to ban all forms of asbestos. An international ban on asbestos is urgently needed.

Estimation of the amount of asbestos-cement roofing in Poland

“…Other asbestos materials used in buildings comprised of sewer and water pipes are subject to physical inventory undertaken by municipal water supply companies. As it was estimated, asbestos-cement roofing accounts for about 90% of all asbestos-containing materials produced and used around the world (Collegium Ramazzini, 2010). Since there is a lack of data on the vast majority of asbestos products in use, that is roofing materials, the necessity arose to quantify the amount of materials that would be landfilled.…”

“…The unique set of physical and chemical properties has led to many industrial applications of asbestos worldwide (Virta, 2003), of which asbestos-cement roofing constitute about 90% of currently used asbestos-containing products (Collegium Ramazzini, 2010). Since exposure to asbestos and asbestos dust causes a wide range of diseases, such as lung cancer, mesothelioma, and asbestosis, it was decided to eliminate asbestos-related diseases; World Health Organization and the International Labour Organization have recommended ceasing of the usage of all types of asbestos (International Labour Organisation and World Health Organisation, 2007).…”