ASBESTOS
A GLOBAL KILLER
Women in Europe for a Common Future - WECF
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Speakers
Olga Speranskaya, Eco Accord Russia
Asbestos in Russia, biggest producer and consumer
Yuyun Ismawati, Balifokus, Indonesia
Asbestos in Indonesia
Annabella Rosemberg, ITUC
Perspective of the Trade Unions
Markus Mattenklott, German Social Accident Insurance
The German case
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All Asbestos linked to cancer
• WHO: 125 million people occupationally exposed
to asbestos, including women and children
• ILO: asbestos causes 100.000 deaths globally
every year through occupational exposure alone.
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Health Risks Asbestos
All types of asbestos can cause:
• asbestosis, a progressive fibrotic disease of the lungs.
• lung cancer,malignant mesothelioma and
gastrointestinal cancers
• Latest research: asbestos increases risk of ovarian
cancer
Research shows, that
• excessive risks of lung cancer and mesothelioma
(increased by tobacco smoking)
• there is no threshold value
• one fibre of asbestos can be enough for asbestosis and
cancer development
Source: International Agency for Research on Cancer of the World Health Organization (WHO)
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Women and children: affected
Mesothelioma development risks increase sharply
• in the case of long-term exposure to low doses of asbestos
comparatively
• exposure to high doses
Cases of mesothelomia cancer:
• Washing clothes
asbestos workers
• Playing as child
near asbestos factory
• Living near asbestos factory
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Indian child playing on
Asbestos dust heap
What countries do
Main asbestos producers:
Russia, Canada, Kazakhstan, China, Brazil
Main asbestos users:
same and:
• India,Thailand, Nigeria, Angola, Mexico, Uruguay, Argentina,
Zimbabwe, Algeria, Colombia, Vietnam, Pakistan, Indonesia...and
others
•
40 countries have banned chrysotile asbestos use, most of them
developed countries and some developing countries
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Citizens in many user countries believe
their asbestos is safe
•
WECF discovered with shock
that NGO partners wanted to use
asbestos for ecological
construction
•
NGOs and the public had been
told, that “their” asbestos was
safe
•
People sawing asbestos slates in
their house and garden
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Common sight in EECCA:
asbestos slates used in
home and garden
WECF tested Kazakh asbestos
•
WECF bought asbestos sample
in Almaty, Kiev and Garla Mare
•
Tested in accredited laboratory in
Germany
•
The chrysotile asbestos from
Kazakhstan is of cancer-causing
type
Laboratory test of asbestos
plate bought in Almaty,
Kazakhstan
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Kazakh asbestos is same as the
asbestos forbidden in 40 countries
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Unethical Commercial Tactics
• Commercial tactics of the asbestos industry are similar
to those of the tobacco industry.
• Losses resulting from reduced cigarette consumption in
the developed countries are offset by heavy selling to
the Third World.
• Canada, Russia, and other asbestos-exporting countries
have developed major markets in developing countries
• Asbestos industry lures consumers in developing
countries that „their“ asbestos can be safely used
• Authorities can not protect their populations health,
imports remain uncontrolled as long as not on PIC list
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Asbestos producers
• Most asbestos is sold by national companies
• No more asbestos multinational corporations exist
• These national companies do not bear the costs of
occupational and environmental illness their products
are causing.
• These companies are a threat to public health
• Scientists and public officials have faced death threats
and attacks on their professional career in the court
• International campaigns of support needed for public
health workers advocating asbestos bans in Brazil and
India.
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Only solution: ban of asbestos
• “controlled use” in NOT a realistic alternative to a ban
• Ban in 40 industrialized countries is shifting sales to
developing countries
• International ban is the main solution to help protect
citizens in developing countries
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Listing of Asbestos Rotterdam
Convention
• Scientific Review Committee of Rotterdam Convention
has proposed listing of chrysotile asbestos under
Annex III of RC
• Prior Informed Consent to help countries control imports
and exports of hazardous substances to and from their
countries
• Few asbestos producing states block decision at
Rotterdam Convention COP due to consensus vote:
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Vietnam, Zimbabwe (+Russia
that is not a member)
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WECF asbestos awareness
programme
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Thank you for your attention
Women in Europe for a Common Future - WECF
www.wecf.eu