Since the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) partial ban on asbestos took effect in 1989, countless studies by governmental agencies and nongovernmental organizations continue to provide statistics supporting the risks and destructive results of asbestos exposure. This partial ban affects the manufacture, import, processing, and distribution of certain asbestos-containing products, as well as prevents new asbestos products from entering the marketplace.
Although U.S. demand for asbestos and associated products decreased by 95% by 1990, other countries continued to mine, manufacture, and consume asbestos freely. Additionally, legacy asbestos (asbestos containing material, or ACM, already present in pre-1980 structures and products not addressed in the partial ban) continue to pose a threat to human health.
These statistics can help you understand the rise of asbestos production and use, and the risks associated with asbestos exposure today.
Asbestos Production
As a naturally occurring mineral, asbestos can be found on every continent in the world. Once its strength and fire-retardant capabilities were discovered early in the 20th century, raw asbestos was aggressively harvested in open pit and underground mines.
- Of the six silicate minerals comprising the asbestos group, chrysotile accounts for almost 95% of asbestos in the U.S. Although no level of asbestos exposure is considered safe, this class of serpentine-fibered asbestos is not as dangerous as the amphibole class.
- Asbestos production reached its peak in 1973 with over 25 different countries producing an estimated 4.8 million metric tons of asbestos ore. At its peak, the U.S. extracted and processed 804,000 tons.
- Also in the 1970s, at least 85 countries mined raw asbestos and produced over 3,000 products including automotive parts like brake linings, pads, and shoes; construction materials like shingles, drywall, and insulation; and personal items like baby powder.
- The top asbestos-producing countries of the last century were Brazil, Canada, China, Cyprus, Greece, Italy, Russia, South Africa, the United States, and Zimbabwe. The U.S. did not stop mining asbestos until 2002.
- Today, Russia produces more asbestos than any other country, followed by Kazakhstan, China, and Brazil, respectively. In some countries demand has actually risen, because there are no asbestos bans currently in place.
Asbestos Health Effects
Since low levels of asbestos are commonly found in air, water, and soil, everyone is exposed to asbestos at some point in their lives. However, American workers represent the highest at-risk group because of potentially high levels of exposure, repeated over time.
- Workers at highest risk for developing mesothelioma (an aggressive cancer linked only to asbestos exposure) were involved with mining, manufacturing, or installing asbestos or ACM. Of workplace mesothelioma cases, 85% are men and 23% are women.
- The highest risk workers include: shipyard and on-ship workers; welders, foundry, and metalsmiths; steel mill, construction, and railway workers; mechanics and automotive technicians; oil workers; firefighters; plumbers and pipefitters; and military personnel.
- The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) began tracking asbestos-related illnesses and deaths in 1999. They estimated that between 2005 to 2027, approximated 29,667 deaths would be attributable to asbestos.
- The latency period for asbestos-related illnesses is between 10 and 50 years. This means that a worker who was exposed to asbestos in 1978 might not discover an illness (mesothelioma, asbestosis, or lung cancer) until 2028.
- Asbestos-related disease and deaths will drop in the future as the benefits of regulations and bans are realized. However, currently approximately 30 people die each day from an asbestos-related disease, and 80-90% of these are diseases of the lungs.
Most Current News. Although death and illness caused by widespread use of asbestos are expected to decline, individuals who were involved with the rescue, recovery, and cleanup of the World Trade Center in 2001 represent a current at-risk group. Following the attack on September 11 in New York City, hundreds of tons of asbestos were released into the air. Firefighters, police officers, paramedics, construction workers, and volunteers who worked at Ground Zero should be monitored regularly.
Moving Into The Future. Technology opens possibilities for reducing human exposure to asbestos. For example, drones can be used to detect and even remove asbestos. In the absence of a complete ban and because of the ongoing presence of legacy asbestos, solutions like this can help keep asbestos illness and death to a minimum.
