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e-Toolkit

Asbestos-related disease

A note from our CEO
Section I: Taking action to eliminate asbestos-related diseases
Actions leading to national bans on asbestos
Towards a global ban on asbestos
International bilateral & multilateral mechanisms
History of Mining, consumption production and use of asbestos
Transitioning to alternative non-asbestos materials
Proactive removal of ageing legacy asbestos materials
Section II: Country summaries, case studies and resources
Country summaries
Case studies
Research on ARDs
Section III: What asbestos is and the risks it poses
What asbestos is and how to identify it
Exposure pathways
Asbestos removal, management and disposal
Asbestos in fibres in drinking water
Public health risks from asbestos cement products
Section IV: Health impacts of exposure to asbestos
What are asbestos-related diseases
How are asbestos-related diseases diagnosed?
Can ARDs be treated?
Patient support, care and information
Reporting, coding and registration of ARDs

Chronology of asbestos bans, restrictions & regulations

Since the early 1970s, nation states have been introducing restrictions and bans on the mining, production and use of asbestos. The early adopters of asbestos bans implemented restrictions on the use of crocidolite, amosite and tremolite (the amphibole fibres) in the first instance, with bans on chrysotile (white) asbestos being introduced some years later.

First moves to ban or restrict asbestos

In 1972, Denmark banned the use of asbestos material for thermal and noise insulation and waterproofing; in 1973, the United States, banned sprayed asbestos-containing material for fireproofing and insulation; and also in 1973, Sweden proscribed the use of sprayed asbestos-containing fireproofing.[i]

United States and Canada

In the mid-1980s, the United States (US) Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) commenced plans for phasing out all asbestos use. Due to a concerted effort by the asbestos industry, with support from the Quebec and Canadian Governments, a legal challenge was successful in overturning the US Asbestos Ban and Phase-out Rule in October 1991. As of June 2022, there still is no ban on asbestos in place however, recent moves by the US Environmental Protection Agency to prohibit use of chrysotile, the only form of asbestos fibre currently imported into the US, is a promising development [ii].

Europe

In October 1996, five years after the US ban was vacated, the French Government announced plans to ban asbestos; in retaliation, the Canadian Government launched a legal challenge at the World Trade Organization (WTO). On 12 March 2001, the WTO’s Appellate Body confirmed that Member Governments were indeed entitled to protect populations from exposures to toxic substances such as asbestos.

The adoption of the French ban in December 1996, provided the momentum for the European Union (EU) to take action; Commission Directive 1999/77/EC of 26 July 1999 on dangerous substances and preparations [iii] mandated that as of January 1, 2005, the use of all types of asbestos fibre and all asbestos-containing products – with a time-barred exemption for asbestos-containing diaphragms used for electrolysis in certain chlorine plants – was to be prohibited throughout the EU [iv, v].

Rest of the World

Outside of Europe, the phased approach of first banning the use of one or more of the amphiboles was adopted in Indonesia (1985), Sri Lanka (1987), Japan (1995), Hong Kong (1996), Lebanon (1998), Russia (1999), Malaysia (1999), Argentina (2000), Philippines (2000), Oman (2002) and China (2002). More recently, bans have been introduced in New Zealand (2016), Canada (2018) and Colombia (2019) [i].

References

i. Chronology of asbestos bans and restrictions

International Ban Asbestos Secretariat. Chronology of asbestos bans and restrictions.

Asbestos Ban List – International Ban Asbestos Secretariat

ii. EPA Proposes to Ban Ongoing Uses of Asbestos, Taking Historic Step to Protect People from Cancer Risk

United States Environmental Protection Agency. (2022). EPA Proposes to Ban Ongoing Uses of Asbestos, Taking Historic Step to Protect People from Cancer Risk (05 April 2022)

EPA Proposes Ban on Ongoing Uses of Asbestos to Protect Public Health

iii. Commission Directive 1999/77/EC of 26 July 1999 on dangerous substances and preparations (asbestos)

European Communities. Commission Directive 1999/77/EC of 26 July 1999 on dangerous substances and preparations (asbestos). July 26, 1999.

EU Directive 1999/77/EC – Ban of Asbestos-Containing Products

iv. Europe Bans Asbestos!

Kazan-Allen, L. (05 May 2000) Europe Bans Asbestos!

Status of Asbestos Ban in Sri Lanka and EU – IBA Secretariat

v. Commission extends ban on asbestos products in EU.

European Commission. (09 August 1999) Commission extends ban on asbestos products in EU.

European Commission Extends EU Ban on Asbestos Products

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