Ban-Asbestos-India: Promoting Asbestos, a Corporate Crime

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Promoting Asbestos, a Corporate Crime

andhra pradesh: protests
The Silicate Murderees
A proposed asbestos unit faces spirited opposition
Madhavi Tata, Outlook, May 16, 2011

Serving Krishna Poison

Proposal to set up an 1.8 lakh tonne per annum asbestos making unit in Andhra’s Krishna district (its third, if it comes up) attracts widespread criticism
Asbestos is carcinogenic
Fifty-five countries have banned its mining and use
India has been phasing out asbestos mining since 1986

It was called a magic mineral till it was found to be carcinogenic. Asbestos, which is used mostly in the construction industry and is known for its durable, fire-resistant quality and cheap price, is now primarily associated with lung cancer, mesothelioma (cancer that develops from the protective lining covering internal organs) and ‘asbestosis’. Such is its toxicity as a human carcinogen that 55 nations have banned its mining and usage entirely. India, however, continues to use it in various sectors despite its proven threat.

The gamut of emotions and issues involved in the use of asbestos in India was played out recently in Andhra Pradesh, where a proposal to allot a factory site to Pune-based Sahyadri Ltd in Narasimharaopalem village of Krishna district to set up an asbestos sheet and accessories manufacturing unit led to a massive public outcry. The extent of disapproval was seen during an environmental public hearing on April 21. The proposed plant, with a capacity of 1.8 lakh tonne per annum, is opposed by environmentalists and occupational health hazard researchers, Ban Asbestos Network of India, Jana Vignana Vedika, Human Rights Forum and Rythu Coolie Sangham. With big players like Ramco Industries, Bhagyanagar Woodplast, Hyderabad Industries and Visakha Industries, Andhra Pradesh is considered the asbestos capital of the country. Both Hyderabad Industries and Visakha Industries are owned by G. Vivek, Congress MP from Peddapalli constituency. Hyderabad Industries (Kondapalli) and Visakha Industries (Jujjuru) are both located in Krishna district. If allowed, the Sahyadri asbestos plant would be the third in the district.

India has been phasing out mining of asbestos since 1986. The central government has stopped granting new asbestos mining leases or renewing old ones. But official estimates state that seven mines are operational in the country. It is still mined in some parts of Gujarat, Rajasthan, Jharkhand and Andhra Pradesh. In Andhra, asbestos is mined in the Saraswati-Brahmanpalli mines in Kadapa district by a company owned by Y.S. Prakash Reddy, a cousin of the late Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy.

For the complete story visit: http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?271694

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Ban on Asbestos is a Must

A study in a peer-reviewed journal had earlier estimated that there could be more than 6,000 workers affected by asbestosis (an untreatable lung ailment) and another 600 suffering at the minimum from asbestosis-related lung cancer in India at present. Occupational cancer from asbestos, the disease caused by emissions at the work place, poses an increasingly serious health problem. But the subject has attracted relatively little attention from industry, labour, public health bodies or the medical profession. Asbestos is one of the single largest sources of occupational cancer. Indian polticians are acting as if they are bonded workers of asbestos industry.

World Trade Center, New York collapsed Thousands of tons of asbestos became airborne.

Back in 1981, there was research coming out that Asbestos was cancer causing and this ad was in rebuttal to that research touting the benefits of using Asbestos. The text over the Twin Towers states, "When the Fire Alarm Went Off, It Took Two Hours to Evacuate New York's World Trade Center." I do not need to remind anyone of the images of September 11th and this ad. The copy below the ad goes on to mention all of the places that Asbestos was used in the World Trade Center. I can not not think of all of the innocent victims in the area that were exposed to all of the dust, smoke and inherent asbestos that was in the air after the buildings collapsed. The cloud of smoke went across the entire city and potentially exposed hundreds of thousands of individuals to asbestos. Hopefully there can be a cure or treatment for Mesothelioma before all of these potential victims are diagnosed.

Apex Court allocates meagre compensation for asbetsos victims

In 1995, the Supreme Court of India fixed Rs 1 lakh compensation amount and identified National Institute of Occupational Health (NIOH) as the final authority to certify asbestosis cases. Compensations are given through the Employees State Insurance Corporation (ESIC). Two workers in Ahmedabad Electricity Company diagnosed as having asbestosis by NIOH have been compensated by Gujarat High Court. Twenty-five workers in asbestos jointing and packing industry at Mumbai were compensated by the Special medical board of ESIC. The court ruled that the industrial units must maintain a health record of every worker up to a minimum period of 40 years; insure workers under the Employees State Insurance Act or Workmen’s Compensation Act and give health coverage to every worker.

Asbestos Victims

Every day estimated 30 deaths in India is under way due to the ongoing trade and use of white asbestos. 'Asbestos' in Greek means 'indestructible'. Greeks called asbestos the 'magic mineral'. Asbestos is a generic term, referring usually to six kinds of naturally occuring mineral fibres. Of these six, three are used more commonly. Chrysotile is the most common, accounts for almost 90 per cent of the asbestos used in the industry, but it is not unusual to encounter Amosite or Crocidolite as well. Though Crocidolite asbestos is banned in India, it can still be found in old insulation material, old ships that come from other countries for wrecking in India. All types of asbestos tend to break into very tiny fibre, almost microscopic. In fact, some of them may be up to 700 times smaller than human hair. Because of their small size, once released into the air, they may stay suspended in the air for hours or even days. Asbestos fibres are virtually indestructible. They are resistant to chemicals and heat, and are very stable in the environment. They do not evaporate into air or dissolve in water, and they do not break down over time. Because of its high durability and with tensile strength asbestos has been widely used inconstruction and insulation materials - it has been used in over 3,000 different products. Where do we use it? In India, asbestos is used in manufacture of pressure and non pressure pipes used for water supply, sewage, irrigation and drainage system in urban and rural areas, asbestos textiles, laminated products, tape, gland packing, packing ropes, brake lining and jointing used in core sector industries such as automobile, heavy equipment, petro-chemicals, nuclear power plants, fertilizers, thermal power plants, transportation, defence.

Make India Asbestos Free

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Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Promoting Asbestos, a Corporate Crime

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