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Global Asbestos Disaster

Author

Listed:
  • Sugio Furuya

    (Japan Occupational Safety and Health Resource Center; Tokyo 136-0071, Japan)

  • Odgerel Chimed-Ochir

    (Department of Environmental Epidemiology, Institute of Industrial Ecological Sciences, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu 807-0804, Japan)

  • Ken Takahashi

    (Asbestos Diseases Research Institute, University of Sydney, P.O. Box 3628, Rhodes, Sydney, NSW 2138, Australia)

  • Annette David

    (Health Partners, LLC, 125 Tun Jose Toves Way, Tamuning 96931, Guam)

  • Jukka Takala

    (WSH Institute, MOMSC, Singapore, ICOH c/o INAIL, Monteporzio Catone, 00078 Rome, Italy)

Abstract

Introduction : Asbestos has been used for thousands of years but only at a large industrial scale for about 100–150 years. The first identified disease was asbestosis, a type of incurable pneumoconiosis caused by asbestos dust and fibres. The latest estimate of global number of asbestosis deaths from the Global Burden of Disease estimate 2016 is 3495. Asbestos-caused cancer was identified in the late 1930’s but despite today’s overwhelming evidence of the strong carcinogenicity of all asbestos types, including chrysotile, it is still widely used globally. Various estimates have been made over time including those of World Health Organization and International Labour Organization: 107,000–112,000 deaths. Present estimates are much higher. Objective : This article summarizes the special edition of this Journal related to asbestos and key aspects of the past and present of the asbestos problem globally. The objective is to collect and provide the latest evidence of the magnitude of asbestos-related diseases and to provide the present best data for revitalizing the International Labor Organization/World Health Organization Joint Program on Asbestos-related Diseases. Methods : Documentation on asbestos-related diseases, their recognition, reporting, compensation and prevention efforts were examined, in particular from the regulatory and prevention point of view. Estimated global numbers of incidence and mortality of asbestos-related diseases were examined. Results : Asbestos causes an estimated 255,000 deaths (243,223–260,029) annually according to latest knowledge, of which work-related exposures are responsible for 233,000 deaths (222,322–242,802). In the European Union, United States of America and in other high income economies (World Health Organization regional classification) the direct costs for sickness, early retirement and death, including production losses, have been estimated to be very high; in the Western European countries and European Union, and equivalent of 0.70% of the Gross Domestic Product or 114 × 10 9 United States Dollars. Intangible costs could be much higher. When applying the Value of Statistical Life of 4 million EUR per cancer death used by the European Commission, we arrived at 410 × 10 9 United States Dollars loss related to occupational cancer and 340 × 10 9 related to asbestos exposure at work, while the human suffering and loss of life is impossible to quantify. The numbers and costs are increasing practically in every country and region in the world. Asbestos has been banned in 55 countries but is used widely today; some 2,030,000 tons consumed annually according to the latest available consumption data. Every 20 tons of asbestos produced and consumed kills a person somewhere in the world. Buying 1 kg of asbestos powder, e.g., in Asia, costs 0.38 United States Dollars, and 20 tons would cost in such retail market 7600 United States Dollars. Conclusions : Present efforts to eliminate this man-made problem, in fact an epidemiological disaster, and preventing exposures leading to it are insufficient in most countries in the world. Applying programs and policies, such as those for the elimination of all kind of asbestos use—that is banning of new asbestos use and tight control and management of existing structures containing asbestos—need revision and resources. The International Labor Organization/World Health Organization Joint Program for the Elimination of Asbestos-Related Diseases needs to be revitalized. Exposure limits do not protect properly against cancer but for asbestos removal and equivalent exposure elimination work, we propose a limit value of 1000 fibres/m 3 .

Suggested Citation

  • Sugio Furuya & Odgerel Chimed-Ochir & Ken Takahashi & Annette David & Jukka Takala, 2018. "Global Asbestos Disaster," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(5), pages 1-11, May.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:15:y:2018:i:5:p:1000-:d:146616
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Jukka Takala, 2015. "Eliminating occupational cancer in Europe and globally," Working Papers 14226, European Trade Union Institute (ETUI).
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    1. Je-Liang Liou, 2019. "Effect of Income Heterogeneity on Valuation of Mortality Risk in Taiwan: An Application of Unconditional Quantile Regression Method," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(9), pages 1-15, May.
    2. Jaume Ferrer & Galo Granados & Santos Hernández & María-Jesús Cruz & Júlia Sampol & Daniel Álvarez Simón & José-María Ramada, 2020. "Validation of an Asbestos Exposure Questionnaire (QEAS-7) for Clinical Practice," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(24), pages 1-10, December.
    3. Luigi Vimercati & Domenica Cavone & Maria Celeste Delfino & Antonio Caputi & Luigi De Maria & Stefania Sponselli & Vincenzo Corrado & Giovanni Maria Ferri & Gabriella Serio, 2020. "Asbestos Air Pollution: Description of a Mesothelioma Cluster Due to Residential Exposure from an Asbestos Cement Factory," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(8), pages 1-17, April.
    4. Carmen Anaya-Aguilar & Manuel Bravo & Antonio Magan-Fernandez & Ramon del Castillo-Salmerón & Alberto Rodríguez-Archilla & Javier Montero & Eva Rosel & Paco Puche & Rosa Anaya-Aguilar, 2022. "Prevention of Occupational Hazards Due to Asbestos Exposure in Dentistry. A Proposal from a Panel of Experts," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(6), pages 1-10, March.
    5. Kyeongmin Kwak & Sung-il Cho & Domyung Paek, 2021. "Future Incidence of Malignant Mesothelioma in South Korea: Updated Projection to 2038," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(12), pages 1-10, June.
    6. Michela Bonafede & Antonella Granieri & Alessandra Binazzi & Carolina Mensi & Federica Grosso & Gianluca Santoro & Isabella Giulia Franzoi & Alessandro Marinaccio & Fanny Guglielmucci, 2020. "Psychological Distress after a Diagnosis of Malignant Mesothelioma in a Group of Patients and Caregivers at the National Priority Contaminated Site of Casale Monferrato," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(12), pages 1-15, June.
    7. Zhangjian Chen & Jiaqi Shi & Yi Zhang & Jiahe Zhang & Shuqiang Li & Li Guan & Guang Jia, 2022. "Screening of Serum Biomarkers of Coal Workers’ Pneumoconiosis by Metabolomics Combined with Machine Learning Strategy," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(12), pages 1-15, June.
    8. Rafael Junqueira Buralli & Regina Dal Castel Pinheiro & Laura Lima Susviela & Sandra Renata Canale Duracenko & Eduardo Mello De Capitani & Alexandre Savaris & Eduardo Algranti, 2023. "The Brazilian System for Monitoring Workers and General Population Exposed to Asbestos: Development, Challenges, and Opportunities for Workers’ Health Surveillance," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(5), pages 1-13, February.
    9. Lucia Fazzo & Giada Minelli & Marco De Santis & Emiliano Ceccarelli & Ivano Iavarone & Amerigo Zona, 2023. "The Epidemiological Surveillance of Mesothelioma Mortality in Italy as a Tool for the Prevention of Asbestos Exposure," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(11), pages 1-16, May.
    10. Odgerel Chimed-Ochir & Diana Arachi & Tim Driscoll & Ro-Ting Lin & Jukka Takala & Ken Takahashi, 2020. "Burden of Mesothelioma Deaths by National Income Category: Current Status and Future Implications," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(18), pages 1-13, September.
    11. Steven B. Markowitz, 2022. "Lung Cancer Screening in Asbestos-Exposed Populations," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(5), pages 1-15, February.
    12. Kwang Min Lee & Lode Godderis & Sugio Furuya & Yoon Ji Kim & Dongmug Kang, 2021. "Comparison of Asbestos Victim Relief Available Outside of Conventional Occupational Compensation Schemes," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(10), pages 1-21, May.
    13. Da-An Huh & Woo-Ri Chae & Yun-Hee Choi & Min-Sung Kang & Yong-Jin Lee & Kyong-Whan Moon, 2022. "Disease Latency according to Asbestos Exposure Characteristics among Malignant Mesothelioma and Asbestos-Related Lung Cancer Cases in South Korea," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(23), pages 1-11, November.
    14. Mia V. Hikuwai & Nicholas Patorniti & Abel S. Vieira & Georgia Frangioudakis Khatib & Rodney A. Stewart, 2023. "Artificial Intelligence for the Detection of Asbestos Cement Roofing: An Investigation of Multi-Spectral Satellite Imagery and High-Resolution Aerial Imagery," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(5), pages 1-23, February.
    15. Enrico Oddone & Jordy Bollon & Consuelo Rubina Nava & Marcella Bugani & Dario Consonni & Alessandro Marinaccio & Corrado Magnani & Francesco Barone-Adesi, 2020. "Predictions of Mortality from Pleural Mesothelioma in Italy After the Ban of Asbestos Use," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(2), pages 1-11, January.
    16. Achyut Aryal & Craig Morley, 2024. "Mitigation of Contamination and Health Risk: Asbestos Management and Regulatory Practices," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(22), pages 1-14, November.

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