Plenary Session 7
A World Free from Asbestos Risks: the Future Strategies
Chairs: Temmyo Yoshiomi and Barry Castleman
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Ken Takahashi
Department of Environmental Epidemiology, Institute of Industrial Ecological Sciences, University of Occupational and Environmental Health (UOEH), Japan
ABSTRACT
Asia is often noted for its rapidly growing economy and its large share of the world's population. The region is also diverse, in terms of development, socio-demographic, historical, political, and cultural dimensions. Asbestos-related diseases are inter-related with all these factors, and further complicated by globalization. The objective of this presentation is to build on the fruits of the "Asbestos Symposium for the Asian Countries (represented by eleven countries)" held in UOEH in 2002, and formulate an Asian initiative.
In the region, the trend in consumption of asbestos shows a striking contrast: the industrialized countries show a steady decrease, and developing countries show a definite increase. While most countries have enforced bans on the use of crocidolite, amosite is not banned in some countries. Regarding chrysotile, Singapore and recently Japan, are the only two countries which has banned its use practically. The banning of asbestos is not on the agenda, at least officially, in other countries. China continues to be one of the world's largest consumers and producers of chrysotile asbestos. Regarding asbestos-related diseases, asbestosis is a recognized occupational disease in most countries, but under-diagnosis and under-reporting is apparent in developing countries. Mesothelioma is far more underdiagnosed (as a disease and more so as an occupational disease) and incidence/mortality data are available for only a few countries. For asbestos-related lung cancer, the situation is abysmal.
Asia is likely to be on the verge of an epidemic of asbestos-related diseases. However, asbestos-exporting corporations are keen to take advantage of the demand created by rapid economic development of the region. Hence a careful, justifiable and concerted effort is needed to stop the spread of asbestos-related diseases in the region. A preliminary action plan will be proposed to serve as basis for a progressive discussion with an aim to gain wide acceptance.