Global Situation and Activities Implemented in the EECCA region

Sascha Gabizon, Executive DirectorSascha Gabizon, Executive Director

Women in Europe for a Common Future - WECFWomen in Europe for a Common Future - WECF

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• Asbestos minerals 2 groups: Asbestos minerals 2 groups:

1.1. Serpentine asbestosSerpentine asbestos = chrysotile (“white”) = chrysotile (“white”)

2.2. AmphiboleAmphibole = 5 minerals: amosite (“brown”), crocidolite = 5 minerals: amosite (“brown”), crocidolite (“blue”), tremolite, anthophylite, and actinolite. (“blue”), tremolite, anthophylite, and actinolite.

• Chrysotile asbestos: Chrysotile asbestos: 90%90% of worldwide use of worldwide use

Focus: Chrysotile AsbestosFocus: Chrysotile Asbestos

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• 53 countries have banned or almost completely 53 countries have banned or almost completely forbid chrysotile asbestos useforbid chrysotile asbestos use

• Including:Including:• EU countriesEU countries• JapanJapan• AustraliaAustralia• USAUSA• CanadaCanada• Egypt Egypt

53 Countries banned Chrysotile 53 Countries banned Chrysotile AsbestosAsbestos

• ArgentinaArgentina• Honduras Honduras • South Korea South Korea • ChileChile• South AfricaSouth Africa• KuwaitKuwait

• TaiwanTaiwan• SingaporeSingapore• QatarQatar• OmanOman• IsraelIsrael

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Use of asbestos in Germany

Ban of asbestosin Germany (1993)

Chrysotile:96 %Crocidolite:3 %Amosite: 1%

Interdiction of use of sprayed asbestos (1979)

96% of Use; Chrysotile

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4 main Chrysotile Asbestos 4 main Chrysotile Asbestos producersproducers: : • Russia :Russia : 1.000.000 tons in 20091.000.000 tons in 2009• China :China : 380.000 tons in 2009380.000 tons in 2009• Brazil :Brazil : 288.000 tons in 2009288.000 tons in 2009• Kazakhstan :Kazakhstan : 230.000 tons in 2009230.000 tons in 2009

Chrysotile Asbestos Chrysotile Asbestos usersusers: :

• RussiaRussia and all EECCA countries and all EECCA countries

• Developing countriesDeveloping countries; China, India, Brazil, Thailand, ; China, India, Brazil, Thailand, Nigeria, Angola, Mexico, Uruguay, Zimbabwe, Algeria, Nigeria, Angola, Mexico, Uruguay, Zimbabwe, Algeria, Colombia, Vietnam, Pakistan...Colombia, Vietnam, Pakistan...

Main asbestos countries Main asbestos countries

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• WHO, IARC and EC have concluded that all forms WHO, IARC and EC have concluded that all forms of asbestos cause cancerof asbestos cause cancer

• including the chrysotile form produced in Russia including the chrysotile form produced in Russia and Kazakhstan and unfortunately still widely used and Kazakhstan and unfortunately still widely used in EECCAin EECCA

• Chrysotile asbestos: Chrysotile asbestos: • asbestosis asbestosis • lung cancerlung cancer• malignant mesotheliomamalignant mesothelioma• gastrointestinal cancersgastrointestinal cancers• ovary cancersovary cancers

• There is no known threshold for safety - one fibre can killThere is no known threshold for safety - one fibre can kill

All types of Asbestos : lethal riskAll types of Asbestos : lethal risk

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• Early indications that chrysotile might be less dangerous Early indications that chrysotile might be less dangerous than other forms of asbestos have not held upthan other forms of asbestos have not held up

• Due to the long latency period of most asbestos-Due to the long latency period of most asbestos-related diseases, phasing out the use of related diseases, phasing out the use of chrysotile asbestos now will result in reducing chrysotile asbestos now will result in reducing the burden of disease in several decadesthe burden of disease in several decades

• WHO: 125.000.000 people occupationally WHO: 125.000.000 people occupationally exposed to asbestos, including women and exposed to asbestos, including women and childrenchildren

• ILO: asbestos causes 100.000 deaths globally ILO: asbestos causes 100.000 deaths globally every year through occupational exposure aloneevery year through occupational exposure alone

Long Latency 20-30 yearsLong Latency 20-30 years

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UK asbestos death among menUK asbestos death among men

and Russia? and Russia?

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• 52.000 asbestos death in Netherlands (on 15’’)52.000 asbestos death in Netherlands (on 15’’)

• Only 1% survivesOnly 1% survives

• Mesothelioma : dead within 2 yearsMesothelioma : dead within 2 years

• All asbestos death are unnecessaryAll asbestos death are unnecessary

• „„Controlled useControlled use“ of asbestos products was “ of asbestos products was notnot demonstrated demonstrated

• Can not be relied on to protect workers’ healthCan not be relied on to protect workers’ health

• Not an ‘alternative’ measure to the asbestos banNot an ‘alternative’ measure to the asbestos ban

• Cost to Economy: 67.000.000.000.000 EuroCost to Economy: 67.000.000.000.000 Euro

• If early measures: 42 billion Euro have been savedIf early measures: 42 billion Euro have been saved

Case of the NetherlandsCase of the Netherlands

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• Asbestos industry unsuccessfully attempted to Asbestos industry unsuccessfully attempted to influence scientific organizationsinfluence scientific organizations

• It was brought to World Trade Organization It was brought to World Trade Organization (WTO) to overturn national bans on asbestos: (WTO) to overturn national bans on asbestos: unsuccessfullyunsuccessfully

• Countries have the right to protect their Countries have the right to protect their populations health against hazardous populations health against hazardous substancessubstances

Industry sponsored research and Industry sponsored research and lobbying attempts failed lobbying attempts failed

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• Chemical Review Committee of Rotterdam Convention Chemical Review Committee of Rotterdam Convention has proposed listing of chrysotile asbestos for PIC Listhas proposed listing of chrysotile asbestos for PIC List

• List of Prior Informed ConsentList of Prior Informed Consent

• Principle of Rotterdam Convention: science priorityPrinciple of Rotterdam Convention: science priority

• All types of asbestos are listed, except ChrysotileAll types of asbestos are listed, except Chrysotile

• Some states refused to follow advice of CRC at Some states refused to follow advice of CRC at Rotterdam Convention COP3 and 4Rotterdam Convention COP3 and 4

• Amongst others spoke against: Russia, Kazakhstan, Amongst others spoke against: Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Ukraine,.... Kyrgyzstan, Ukraine,....

Listing of Asbestos Rotterdam ConventionListing of Asbestos Rotterdam Convention

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• Most asbestos sales are now to developing countriesMost asbestos sales are now to developing countries

• Asbestos companies under-price safer, competitive Asbestos companies under-price safer, competitive materials by not bearing the costs of health and economic materials by not bearing the costs of health and economic costs their products are causingcosts their products are causing

Unethical Commercial TacticsUnethical Commercial Tactics

• Asbestos industry lures Asbestos industry lures consumers: „their“ asbestos can consumers: „their“ asbestos can be safely usedbe safely used

• Authorities can not protect their Authorities can not protect their populations health, imports populations health, imports remain uncontrolledremain uncontrolled

Indian child on a heap of Indian child on a heap of asbestos dust, from Russia?asbestos dust, from Russia?

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• WECF discovered with shock WECF discovered with shock that NGO partners wanted to use that NGO partners wanted to use asbestos for ecological asbestos for ecological constructionconstruction

• NGOs and the public had been NGOs and the public had been told, that “their” asbestos was told, that “their” asbestos was safesafe

• People sawing asbestos slates in People sawing asbestos slates in their house and gardentheir house and garden

Russian citizens also believe Russian citizens also believe their asbestos is safetheir asbestos is safe

Common sight in EECCA: Common sight in EECCA: asbestos slates used in asbestos slates used in home and gardenhome and garden

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• WECF bought asbestos sample WECF bought asbestos sample in Almaty, Stepanovka and Garla in Almaty, Stepanovka and Garla MareMare

• Tested in accredited laboratory in Tested in accredited laboratory in GermanyGermany

• The chrysotile asbestos from The chrysotile asbestos from EECCA region is of cancer-EECCA region is of cancer-causing typecausing type

WECF tested chrysotile asbestosWECF tested chrysotile asbestos

Laboratory test of asbestos plates bought in Ukraine

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EECCA asbestos is same as the EECCA asbestos is same as the asbestos forbidden in >50 countriesasbestos forbidden in >50 countries

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Asbestos use in EECCA regionAsbestos use in EECCA region

We discovered:We discovered:• Schools, hospitals, other Schools, hospitals, other

public buildings are build public buildings are build with asbestoswith asbestos

• Households use asbestosHouseholds use asbestos• Asbestos waste problemAsbestos waste problem• Asbestos Industry isAsbestos Industry is dominant dominant • Scientists and politicians Scientists and politicians

are not awareare not aware

Russia and Russia and EECCA: Roofs of EECCA: Roofs of Asbestos and Asbestos and asbestos waste asbestos waste are everywhereare everywhere

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Mesothelioma development risks increase sharply Mesothelioma development risks increase sharply • in the case of long-term exposure to low doses of asbestos in the case of long-term exposure to low doses of asbestos

comparatively comparatively • exposure to high dosesexposure to high doses

Cases of mesothelomia cancer:Cases of mesothelomia cancer:• Washing clothes of asbestos workersWashing clothes of asbestos workers• Playing as child near asbestos factoryPlaying as child near asbestos factory• Living near asbestos factoryLiving near asbestos factory

Burden for the poor: they are more exposedBurden for the poor: they are more exposed

Women and children: Women and children: affectedaffected

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• Russia regulates primary exposureRussia regulates primary exposure• However, secondary exposure is effecting millions However, secondary exposure is effecting millions

of women and children in the EECCA regionof women and children in the EECCA region

Therefore, women and children at risk from:Therefore, women and children at risk from:• Houses, schools, playgrounds with asbestos Houses, schools, playgrounds with asbestos • Asbestos dust in cities with asbestos factoriesAsbestos dust in cities with asbestos factories• Wives and children of men working with asbestosWives and children of men working with asbestos• Asbestos in products, e.g. hair dryers, ironing clothAsbestos in products, e.g. hair dryers, ironing cloth

Russian Women & children also at riskRussian Women & children also at risk

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• Russian Government signed on to “Parma Russian Government signed on to “Parma Declaration on Environment and Health”, 12 March Declaration on Environment and Health”, 12 March 20102010

Regional Priority Goal 4, iii: Regional Priority Goal 4, iii: ““.. we will develop by 2015 national programmes for .. we will develop by 2015 national programmes for

elimination of asbestos-relatedelimination of asbestos-related diseases diseases in in collaboration with WHO and ILO”collaboration with WHO and ILO”

Transparent information needed !Transparent information needed !

Hope for Russia: Parma DeclarationHope for Russia: Parma Declaration

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WECF asbestos awareness programme

Thank you for your attention

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• WECF bought samples in Kazakhstan and had them tested in a laboratory in Germany

• The chrysotile asbestos from Kazakhstan is no different

EECCA Asbestos - just as badEECCA Asbestos - just as bad

Common sight in EECCA: asbestos slates used in home and garden