Ahmedabad: Increase in use of asbestos by
industries in India could pose a major health hazard in the
coming years, experts involved in creating awareness about the
substance banned in over 50 countries, said here today.
Barry Castleman, international expert on asbestos,
Dr Domyung Peak from Seoul & Wonjin Institute of Occupational
and Environmental health, Seol, Korea and Takhito Murayam,
professor of environmental policy and planning, Waseda
University, Japan, are actively involved in creating awareness
on hazards of asbestos, said that developing countries need to
drastically cut down use of the banned substance.
"The use of asbestos in India and China is growing at
an alarming rate of nine per cent per annum," Castleman told
mediapersons here.
"There are about 100,000 deaths world over due to past
use of asbestos that is exposure to the substance which was
used years ago in construction, ship-building and other
materials. This are the figure by the International Labour
Organisation (ILO)," Castleman, who is also an environmental
consultant said.
"Therefore, it is very much likely that use of
asbestos may cause a major public health hazard in the coming
20-30 years due to increase in its use," he added.
PTI