News Coverage
Ban on white asbestos sought
Published June 4, 2004
Environmental groups have demanded a ban on white asbestos after learning that at least 30 people die everyday in the US alone and thousands annually in India due to diseases caused by the white fibre.
"India faces a massive and completely preventable epidemic of early, painful death and suffering caused by white asbestos", BANI (Ban Asbestos Network of India) said.
Its leader, Gopal Krishna warned that because of absence of any mechanism to identify the asbestos victims, the danger India faces is much alarming than has been the case in United Kingdom, Australia and now the US where the asbestos disease epidemic has reached its peak.
As per the studies of National Institute of Occupational Health, exposure from asbestos causes lung cancer, asbestosis and death.
Ministry of Health acknowledged this in August last year but stopped short of recommending its ban and contrary to its own study the Indian representatives at Rotterdam Convention, Geneva opposed its inclusion in the list of hazardous substances which are subjected to trade control.
According to a detailed analysis of government mortality records and epidemiological studies by the Environmental Working Group Action Fund, 10,000 Americans die each year-a-rate approaching 30 deaths per day from asbestos-related diseases.
Estimates show that asbestos kill thousands more than skin cancer and nearly the same number that are slain in assaults with firearms.
Krishna said killing effects of asbestos had been known for nearly hundred years, despite this in the coming years thousands of Indians will die of asbestos related diseases such as lung cancer, mesothelioma and asbestosis due to the callousness of the government.
"Despite the ban on asbestos by over 36 countries and an incessant global movement against this killer fibre, the government has responded merely by setting up one committee after another," he said.
The groups highly exposed to asbestos include metal-plate workers, shipyard workers, vehicle body builders, railway wagon builders, building construction labourers, plumbers and gas fitters. Other groups under risk are chemical and electrical engineers and scientists, welders, dockers, draughtsmen and laboratory technicians.
Environmental activists said it poses a huge risk to ordinary citizens as well. This is evidenced by findings of asbestos related diseases in patients with no known history of asbestos exposure.
Only concerted immediate action by government, environment and health groups and trade unions can save lives, they said, adding while other kinds of asbestos were banned there were myths about safe and controlled use of white asbestos.
Krishna said there is no safe level of asbestos exposure, the fine asbestos fibres enter the body mainly through breathing. Fibres that cannot be coughed up or breathed out become trapped, causing cancers and irreparable scarring of the lungs. He demanded a judicial ruling or legislation to declare use of asbestos as violation of human rights.