Elimination of asbestos-related diseases

Overview

The term "asbestos" designates a group of naturally occurring fibrous serpentine or amphibole minerals with current or historical commercial usefulness due to their extraordinary tensile strength, poor heat conduction, and relative resistance to chemical attack. The principal varieties of asbestos are chrysotile, a serpentine material, and crocidolite, amosite, anthophyllite, tremolite and actinolite, which are amphiboles.

Why is asbestos a problem? It is estimated that currently about 125 million people in the world are exposed to asbestos at the workplace. According to WHO estimates, more than 90,000 people die each year from asbestos-related lung cancer, mesothelioma and asbestosis resulting from occupational exposures. One in every three deaths from occupational cancer is estimated to be caused by asbestos. In addition, it is estimated that several thousands of deaths can be attributed annually to exposure to asbestos in the living environment.

Updated in 2014.

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