Asbestos- an ocuupational and environmental hazard

1. Asbestos- An Occupational and
Environmental Hazard

2. Toxicology and Public Health
Prepared by-
Aayush Verma
School of Ecology and Environment Studies
Nalanda University
Rajgir-803116
Bihar
India.

3. Introduction
• Group of 6 naturally occurring silicate minerals.
• Open cast mining and raw fibrous material.
• “Miracle mineral”-
 High tensile strength.
 Fire/Heat resistance.
 Sound resistance.
 Chemical resistance.
 Electrical resistance.
 Doesn’t degrade overtime.
 Cheap and affordable.

4. • Thus used for making countless products- from building materials to
fireproof gears, insulators, brake pads and gaskets.

5. Public health
• IARC,1977- All 6 types placed under group 1 category of
carcinogens.
• Associated with Asbestosis, Mesothelioma, Lung, Larynx,
Ovarian, Gastrointestinal and Kidney cancer.

6. • Synergistic effect.
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
No Exposure Asbestos Smoking Asbestos +
Smoking
RiskMultiplier
(70 per 100,000
lung cancer deaths
in general population)
Lung Cancer Risks
5x higher risk
than general
population
10x higher
risk
50x to 90x
higher risk

7. Exposure types and hazards
1. Occupational exposure (INHALATION)-
Who directly handle mineral or are in close contact with mineral or
person.
• Most hazardous.
• ILO- 100,000 deaths/year.
• WHO, 2000- 125 million people globally exposed; 43,000 die of
mesothelioma and more than 50,000 due to lung cancer.
• Biggest industrial killer in UK- 4500 deaths/ year.
• Occupations with risks- Mechanics (all types), Refinery, power plant,
ship dismantling and rail road workers, etc.

8. 2. Environmental exposure -
• The everyday use of construction material.
• Developed countries- Asbestos remains legacy of past.
• Developing- Asbestos in large quantities in construction.
“Although Permissible Exposure Limit for asbestos- [0.1f/cc];
scientific community does not believe in any safe level of exposure.”

9. Global Scenario
• All forms of asbestos banned in 55 countries- Sweden, Norway,
Germany, Japan and Singapore (Asia).
• 3 international conventions aimed for banning-
Basel (1989); Stockholm (2001) and Rotterdam Convention (2005).
• Complete ban called by- IARC (1977); EPA (1986); WHO and NTP
(2000) and recently Int. Commission on Occupational Health, ICOH
(2012).
• However, “Controlled use” of chrysotile asbestos often exempted
from ban (accounts for >95% of all asbestos used globally).
• Reflects political and economic influence of mining and
manufacturing lobby.

10. • Annual world production- > 2 million tonnes- majorly chrysotile
[USGS-2009].

11. Indian Scenario
• Largest importer (>100000 metric t/yr. ; 70% from Canada) .
• Chrysotile extracting mines (>25)- Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan,
Gujarat, Karnataka and Jharkhand.
• 150 factories with production rate- 3000 T/M.
• 10 million direct and direct employees in asbestos related industry
and mines.
• 7.25% workers with asbestosis.[ Central Labour Institute].
• 2009, White asbestos (ban on use and import) Bill by UPA in Rajya
Sabha never became a law.
• 2013, India opposed listing Chrysotile as hazardous.
• Working agencies-
ITRC- Indian Toxicology Research Centre.
NIOH- National Institute of Occupational Health.
CLI- Central Labour Institute.

12. Global strategies and
Controversies
• Commercial tactics similar to those of the tobacco industry- public
relation campaigns, establishing market in developing countries-
promoting safe asbestos( white) and thus ofuscating scientific claims.
• Legitimate controversies- Potential relative ability of amphibole vs
chrysotile to cause mesothelioma. No thresold exposure limit set by
scientific community.
• Biopersistance theory- Chrysotile already present in pleura of
mesothelioma patients.
Acadmecians however claim such justifications as dishonest science with
no scientific basis, supported by tens of millions of dollars from
automobiles and mining companies.

13. Conclusion
• ILO estimates that 100,000 asbestos-related deaths occur every year.
• Most of the reported deaths are from the Western countries, where the
asbestos use has either stopped or been reduced drastically.
• Yet due to the long latency period (10-40 years), it is believed that
peak has not yet been reached.
• Profound tragedy- Consumption is on the increase across developing
countries even though there are cheap alternatives .
• asbestos cement water-pipe products - ductile iron pipe, polyethylene
pipes.
• Building walls and ceilings- Sheets of polyvinyl alcohol fibres.
• Asbestos cement sheets - cellulose fibres

14. References
• Frank, A. L., & Joshi, T. K. (2014). The global spread of
asbestos. Annals of global health, 80(4), 257-262.
• Kurunthachalam, S. K. (2013). Asbestos and Its Toxicological
Concern. Hydrology Current Research, 4(3).
• Online source- https://www.asbestos.com/asbestos/. Accessed on -
10/11/17.
• Takahashi, K., & Karjalainen, A. (2003). A cross-country
comparative overview of the asbestos situation in ten Asian
countries. International journal of occupational and environmental
health, 9(3), 244-248.