The socio-economic costs
of asbestos in Germany
“Asbestos – who pays the bill?
Testimonies and Dialogue on Policy Recommendations”
Side-event at the 18th Session of the United Nations
Commission for Sustainable Development (CSD18),
06.04.2010, United Nations Headquarters, New York
Dr. Markus Mattenklott
BGIA - Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
of the German Social Accident Insurance
Germany
Use of asbestos in Germany
Chrysotile: 96 %
Crocidolite: 3 %
Amosite:
1%
Interdiction of
use of sprayed
asbestos (1979)
Total consumption
1948 – 1993:
6 million tons
Ban of asbestos
in Germany
(1993)
The socio-economic costs of asbestos in Germany
M. Mattenklott
06.04.2010
Slide 2
Development of legislation (main steps)
Exposure limit values
[F/cm3]
chr
1979: Prohibition of use of sprayed asbestos
amo
cro
Since
1960
Recommended
values (concerning
1993: General prohibition of mark., fabr. a. use of
asbestos and asbestos containing products
(with few special exceptions)
1973
chr: 0,15 mg/m3
1976
2,0
2,0
---
1995: Interdiction of asbestos exposure
at workplaces
1979
2,0
1,0
2,0
1,0
2,0
1,0
1982
1,0
1,0
1,0
1985
1,0
1,0
0,5
1990
0,25
---
---
1995
---
---
---
1981 - 1993: Prohibition of marketing, fabrication,
use of most asbestos products step by step
(except for asbestos removal, controlled
by special rules, exposure < 0,015 F/cm3) *)
2005: Ban of asbestos in the countries of the
European Union by a binding guideline
*) Technical Rule for Hazardous Substances „Asbestos: Demolition, reconstruction
or maintenance work„ (TRGS 519).
Available in english  www.baua.de, topic “Gefahrstoffe”, subtopic “TRGS”
The socio-economic costs of asbestos in Germany
M. Mattenklott
conimetric data)
New
plants
06.04.2010
Slide 3
chr: chrysotile; cro: crocidolite; amo: amosite
Since 1940: Guidelines and recommendations
by the German social accident insurance
Substitution of asbestos - e.g. asbestos cement
Asbestos-free fibre cement
Asbestos cement
“Eternit AG” in Germany: Substitution of
asbestos in typical products (selection)
and new asbestos-free products
Source: „Asbest und Gesundheit“, documentation
of the Trade Union of fibre cement industries in
Germany, 1994
- Production of undulated panels without asbestos
since December 1984
- improved breaking strength and impact-resistance
The socio-economic costs of asbestos in Germany
M. Mattenklott
06.04.2010
Slide 4
Workplace exposure – acceptance of measures
20
Asbestos exposure at workplaces
(mean values) in different industries
in Germany (FRG)
F/cm3
0,5 F/cm3
- Tools with low emissions were available
- Use of these tools was prescribed
 Reality: no consequent use, no general acceptance
The socio-economic costs of asbestos in Germany
M. Mattenklott
Sources: BK-Report “Faserjahre 1/2007, German Social Accident Insurance – DGUV,
2007; „Asbestspätschäden“, report, Hessisches Social Ministry, 1986
06.04.2010
Slide 5
Asbestos related diseases
Liability and compensation in Germany
• Compensation of asbestos related occupational diseases
is implemented by a workers compensation system
(Workers compensation act of 1884)
• Workers compensation is executed by the
German Statutory Accident Insurance
(statutory basis: German Social Code, Vol. 7)
• Workers compensation gives „immunity“ to employers,
with the exception of employers liability in case of intent
• Contributions to workers compensation are paid by employers
• Occupational diseases are implemented by legislative body
and listed in the German Occupational Diseases Ordinance
The socio-economic costs of asbestos in Germany
M. Mattenklott
06.04.2010
Slide 6
Asbestos related occup. diseases in Germany
1936: Severe asbestosis of the lung
1943: Severe asbestosis of the lung in combination with lung cancer
1976: asbestos induced mesothelioma of the pleura or peritoneum
1988: Lung cancer in combination with asbestosis
or asbestos induced pleural disease
1993: Cumulative asbestos fibre exposure of at minimum 25x106 (Fibres/m3 x years) as third option
to accept lung cancer as asbestos caused
1997: Lung cancer or cancer of the larynx
(in combination with asbestosis or pleural disease
or cumulative asbestos fibre exposure of at
minimum 25x106 (Fibres/m3 x years))
2009: Lung Cancer by syncarcinogenic effect of asbestos
and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon exposure
(dose calculation)
The socio-economic costs of asbestos in Germany
M. Mattenklott
06.04.2010
Slide 7
Asbestos related occup. diseases in Germany
The socio-economic costs of asbestos in Germany
M. Mattenklott
06.04.2010
Slide 8
Asbestos related diseases - Further development and costs
The socio-economic costs of asbestos in Germany
M. Mattenklott
06.04.2010
Slide 9
Number of cases of asbestos related occupational diseases in Germany
up to 2008:
60,000
in total (estimated):
120,000 *)
(lung cancer + mesothelioma: 55,000)
Costs for asbestos related occupational diseases in Germany in 2008
all costs:
540,000,000 US-$
costs for pensions:
452,000,000 US-$
(84 % of all costs)
Costs for asbestos related occupational diseases in Germany 1987 - 2008
all costs:
5,840,000,000 US-$
costs for pensions:
4,840,000,000 US-$ (83 % of all costs)
Estimated total costs for asbestos related occup. diseases in Germany *)
all costs:
20,000,000,000 US-$
costs for pensions:
17,000,000,000 US-$
April 2010: 1 Euro = 1.33 USD
*) Optimistic assumption, that the culmination of cases per year will be reached in 2010
The socio-economic costs of asbestos in Germany
M. Mattenklott
06.04.2010
Slide 10
Source: German Social Accident Insurance - DGUV
Asbestos related diseases - Cases and Costs
Asbestos related diseases - Costs per Case
• Recipients of a pension in 2008:
25,958
• Mean pension per reciepent in 2008:
17,400 US-$
• Estimated mean duration
of pension payment per case:
• Estimated total pension per case
- asbestosis:
- lung cancer:
- mesothelioma:
13 years
130,000 US-$
320,000 US-$
320,000 US-$
April 2010: 1 Euro = 1.33 USD
The socio-economic costs of asbestos in Germany
M. Mattenklott
06.04.2010
Slide 11
Further socio-economic impacts in Germany
• About 1500 workers dying per year due to former occupational
asbestos contact
• Registration of workers with past (about 250,000) and current
(abatement; about 70,000) asbestos contact,
 follow up and preventive occupational health checks
(about 230,000 per year)
(data for 2008)
• Costs for asbestos abatement in public and private buildings
• Uncontrolled current exposure: Health risks as a result of
inappropriate handling of still used asbestos products in
residential homes and industrial applications
The socio-economic costs of asbestos in Germany
M. Mattenklott
06.04.2010
Slide 12
The socio-economic costs of asbestos in Germany
M. Mattenklott
06.04.2010
Slide 13
Asbestos products used in Germany (e.g. 1975)
Asbestos cement
Asbestos [t]
140.000
Kind of asbestos
95% chr, 4% cro, 1% amo
Brake and clutch linings
9.000
chr
Asbestos textiles
6.500
97% chr,
Floor covering (flex boards, vinyl floor tiles)
15.000
chr
Gaskets
5.700
chr
Filtration media
1.500
chr,
Moulding materials
2.000
chr
Asphalt covering (mastic asphalt)
1.000
chr
Spray-on asbestos coatings
Chemical products for building and others
500
10.000
chr: chrysotile; cro: crocidolite; amo: amosite
Product
3% cro
rarely amo
cro, rarely chr
chr, cro
Source: G. Albracht, O.A. Schwerdtfeger (Ed.): Herausforderung Asbest, 432 p., Universum Verlagsgesellschaft, 1991
The socio-economic costs of asbestos in Germany
M. Mattenklott
06.04.2010
Slide 14
Substitution of asbestos in Germany
(1)
Field of
application
Product groups, substitution by asbestos free products until end of
Work
protection
heat protection clothing and gloves, different
textile objects
Fire
protection
fire protection panels and mats, spraying mixtures,
insulation plaster, fire blankets, protective clothing,
synthetic plastic materials, coatings/paints,
mastics, putties, mortars, millboards, cords, mats,
inorganic foams,
seal bags, fire blankets and curtains,
protection clothing for fire fighters
Thermal
insulating
panels and mats, spraying mixtures, filling
materials for cavities and interstices, shaped parts
and moulding mixtures, textile products
Electrical
insulation
insulation for cables/wires and household
appliances, insulating materials, moulding
materials
Gaskets and
seals
flat and other formed gaskets, cylinder head
gaskets, high temperature
seals, compensators
1990
1991
1994 (current)
heat protect. cloth.
against melts (temp.
> 1000 °C)
electrical insulation
of special-purposecables
moulded thermosetting materials for
commutators
Flat/other formed
gaskets for cars and
industrial appl.
Source: G. Albracht, O.A. Schwerdtfeger (Ed.): Herausforderung Asbest,
432 p., Universum Verlagsgesellschaft, 1991
The socio-economic costs of asbestos in Germany
M. Mattenklott
06.04.2010
Slide 15
Substitution of asbestos in Germany
(2)
Field of
application
Product groups, substitution by asbestos free products until end of
Filtration
fine- and aseptic-filtration media for liquids, gas
filtration (ventilation, dust removal), gasmask
filters, diaphragms
Brake and
clutch linings
disc and drum brakes, clutch linings, brake
blocks
disc brakes for
railway vehicles,
brake linings for
vehicles *)
brake blocks for railway
vehicles, clutch linings
for vehicles *), brake
linings for industrial
applications
Building
materials
asbestos cement (flat and undulated panels,
roof slates, pipes/tubes, et al.)
flat and undulated
panels for building
construction sector
high pressure water
pipes and
sewer pipes
Chemical
products and
others
paints, putties, adhesives, sealing compounds,
mastics, special products based on bitumen or
tar, moulding material with resin matrix
1990
1991
1994 (current)
2010: chrysotile
containing diaphragms
for chloralkali process
Current: use of
chrysotile containing
acetone gas cylinders
(prod. before 1995)
*) depending on substitution status
Source: G. Albracht, O.A. Schwerdtfeger (Ed.): Herausforderung Asbest,
432 p., Universum Verlagsgesellschaft, 1991
The socio-economic costs of asbestos in Germany
M. Mattenklott
06.04.2010
Slide 16
Workplace exposure – acceptance of measures
… a current problem
Current campaign of the german
social accident insurance (2007)
• Dust exposure in German building
industry is too high!
• In 2005 about 10.000 cases of suspicion
of occupational diseases caused by dust
exposure were reported
• New campaign with industry to raise
sensibility for the health hazards caused
by dust
• Recommendations for the use of tools
and operations with low emissions
The socio-economic costs of asbestos in Germany
M. Mattenklott
06.04.2010
Slide 17
Risk assessment at workplaces by dust measurements
- General approach sampling carriers, analytical reports
measurement
report
sampling
UVT
Measuring
Services
samples for analysis
UVT
Workplace
Inspection
consultation
IFA
Laboratories
IFA
Scientific
Support
UVT:
Institutions for statutory
accident insurance and
prevention in Germany
Information transfer
- development of measurement methods
Industry
- progress of technical safeguards
Workplaces
The socio-economic costs of asbestos in Germany - modification of rules and guidelines
M. Mattenklott
06.04.2010
Slide 18