India asbestos industry thrives despite health warnings

AFP, AHMEDABAD: Gripping his inhaler as he struggles to breathe, rake-thin Chinnapan Chinnakannu blames his years spent labouring in one of India’s scores of asbestos cement factories for his debilitating illness.
When he first started at the factory in western Gujarat state, Chinnapan said he was given protective clothing “but later they stopped providing us with masks and shoes”.
“Initially I suffered from breathlessness, but slowly the frequency increased and reached a point where I could hardly work,” said Chinnapan, who was diagnosed with asbestosis, or scarring of the lungs, in 2007.
“Slowly I started losing weight, I couldn’t even drink water as it made me vomit immediately,” the 64-year-old said in his one-bedroom house on the outskirts of Ahmedabad.
A pariah product in most of the West, blamed for thousands of deaths, asbestos is hugely popular in the developing world—including in India, where it’s a $1.4 billion growing industry.
Nations at a UN meeting in Geneva last month tried to add chrysotile, or white asbestos to a list of dangerous substances subject to export restrictions.
But the move was blocked by leading asbestos exporter Russia and other developing nations, a stance supported by India, one of the world’s biggest importers.
Activists and unions say India’s government must start to recognise the dangers posed by asbestos, whose fibres doctors worldwide say lodges in the lungs causing cancer and other diseases.
More than 50 nations, including all members of the EU, have banned all forms of asbestos, which the World Health Organization says
kills at least 107,000 people annually.
“The time has come to ban this product outright and India must see that. It’s just too dangerous,” said hazardous materials activist Gopal Krishna.
New Delhi defended its position in Geneva, saying there was “no proof” India’s asbestos factories or their products—used mainly in low-cost housing—are unsafe.
“We took a call which looked pro-industry but this was done in the absence of credible data (on the health risks),” Shashi Shekhar, India’s top official in charge of hazardous materials and chairman of the Central Pollution Control Board, told AFP. Shekhar said he has commissioned a study into the possible health effects which would take up to two years to complete.
“The whole world is talking about it (asbestos) in a grave way, and so we have to see whether they are right or wrong.”
In Ahmedabad, business is brisk at a huge warehouse where asbestos wholesaler Mansur Satani has little time to talk of health concerns, other than to say they don’t exist.
“This is the peak trading period for the year,” Satani said as the phone rang constantly in his office.
The industry and other asbestos supporters say curly-fibred chrysotile is safe, and only other forms with more jagged fibres are dangerous.

India asbestos industry thrives despite health warnings

AFP, AHMEDABAD: Gripping his inhaler as he struggles to breathe, rake-thin Chinnapan Chinnakannu blames his years spent labouring in one of Indias scores of asbestos cement factories for his debilitating illness. When he first started at the factory in western Gujarat state, Chinnapan said he was given protective clothing but later they stopped providing us with masks and shoes. Initially I suffered from breathlessness, but slowly the frequency increased and reached a point where I could hardly work, said Chinnapan, who was diagnosed with asbestosis, or scarring of the lungs, in 2007. Slowly I started losing weight, I couldnt even drink water as it made me vomit immediately, the 64-year-old said in his one-bedroom house on the outskirts of Ahmedabad. A pariah product in most of the West, blamed for thousands of deaths, asbestos is hugely popular in the developing worldincluding in India, where its a $1.4 billion growing industry. Nations at a UN meeting in Geneva last month tried to add chrysotile, or white asbestos to a list of dangerous substances subject to export restrictions. But the move was blocked by leading asbestos exporter Russia and other developing nations, a stance supported by India, one of the worlds biggest importers. Activists and unions say Indias government must start to recognise the dangers posed by asbestos, whose fibres doctors worldwide say lodges in the lungs causing cancer and other diseases. More than 50 nations, including all members of the EU, have banned all forms of asbestos, which the World Health Organization says kills at least 107,000 people annually. The time has come to ban this product outright and India must see that. Its just too dangerous, said hazardous materials activist Gopal Krishna. New Delhi defended its position in Geneva, saying there was no proof Indias asbestos factories or their productsused mainly in low-cost housingare unsafe. We took a call which looked pro-industry but this was done in the absence of credible data (on the health risks), Shashi Shekhar, Indias top official in charge of hazardous materials and chairman of the Central Pollution Control Board, told AFP. Shekhar said he has commissioned a study into the possible health effects which would take up to two years to complete. The whole world is talking about it (asbestos) in a grave way, and so we have to see whether they are right or wrong. In Ahmedabad, business is brisk at a huge warehouse where asbestos wholesaler Mansur Satani has little time to talk of health concerns, other than to say they dont exist. This is the peak trading period for the year, Satani said as the phone rang constantly in his office. The industry and other asbestos supporters say curly-fibred chrysotile is safe, and only other forms with more jagged fibres are dangerous.