Confronting the International
Asbestos-Cement Industry
Andrew F. Oberta, MPH, CIH
The Environmental Consultancy
© 2012 The Environmental Consultancy. All rights reserved. May be used with
attribution to Andrew F. Oberta, MPH, CIH, The Environmental Consultancy,
www.asbestosguru-oberta.com
This presentation was given at the Asbestos Disease Awareness
Organization conference on March 31, 2012 in Manhattan Beach, California. It is
provided here for use by those who are willing to accept the challenge to put the
world-wide asbestos-cement industry out of business. No restrictions are placed on
its use other than to refrain from alteration of the content in a way that would
misrepresent the intent of the presentation. Attribution to Andrew F. Oberta, MPH,
CIH, The Environmental Consultancy, www.asbestosguru-oberta.com is requested.
The text in the Notes panel below each slide in Normal view are my
explanation of the content.
I would appreciate any feedback on your use of this presentation and any
results achieved therefrom. My contact information is at the end of the program.
Andy Oberta
Where does asbestos fiber come from?
World Mine Production and Reserves: 2011
Production, tons
Russia
China
Brazil
Kazakhstan
Canada
Other countries
World total (rounded)
1,000,000
400,000
270,000
210,000
100,000
20,000
2,000,000
Reserves
Large
Large
Moderate
Large
Large
Moderate
200,000,000
Source: U.S. G.S. Mineral Commodity Summaries, January 2012
More than 90% of the world production of chrysotile is used in
the manufacture of chrysotile-cement, in the form of pipes,
sheets and shingles -- Chrysotile Institute
Where is asbestos fiber used?
• Recent US consumption is minimal
 2011 consumption: 1100 tons (imported)
 Roofing - 60% ; Chloralkali - 35%; Other - 5%
• Asbestos cement used for roofing, siding and pipes
Where is asbestos fiber used?
• 2010 consumption in metric tons
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China - 613,760
India - 426,363
Russia - 263,037
Brazil - 139,153
Indonesia - 111,848
• Developing countries are target markets
• Even industrialized countries may lack a health
and environmental protection infrastructure for
asbestos hazards
Hazards of producing the fiber
Mining, milling, transportation
Hazards of manufacturing the products
Hazards of manufacturing the products
“Representatives of the world's major chrysotile exporting mines signed an
agreement whereby they committed to supply chrysotile fibre only to those
companies that demonstrate compliance with national health and safety
regulations.” -- The Chrysotile Institute
Source: Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Hazards of manufacturing the products
Source: OEHNI Times .. Issue 3 .. Oct - Dec 2010
Myths and Facts of “Controlled Use”
Myth: Asbestos-cement cannot be crumbled to powder by hand
pressure- it is non-friable
Fact: Asbestos-cement can become friable when damaged
Myths and Facts of “Controlled Use”
Myth: Asbestos fibers are locked in the cement matrix and cannot
be released from the surface
J. Dyczek
L. Dwyer
J. Millette
Fact: Fibers are released through normal weathering processes
Myths and Facts of “Controlled Use”
Myth: Asbestos-cement products present no exposure hazard to
building occupants
Fact: Damage and vibration can expose building occupants to
asbestos hazards
Myths and Facts of “Controlled Use”
Myth: Asbestos-cement pipes cause no health or environmental
hazard
J. Millette
Fact: Chrysotile and crocidolite fibers are released when pipes are
dug up, broken and crushed
Myths and Facts of “Controlled Use”
Myth: Paint and encapsulants offer permanent protection against
asbestos fiber release
PLM
Fiberquant
SEM
Fact: Paint and encapsulants deteriorate and take asbestos fibers
with them when they peel off
Confronting the Problem of Installed Products
• Outreach and education to create awareness of hazards
• Example: roof removal from shelters in Indonesia, April 2011
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Dave Hodgkin, Benchmark Consulting, Indonesia
Two-day community workshop on issues and methods
Removal demonstration at two shelters by facilitators
Removals at 50 shelters by community participants
• Enforce proper work practices through regulations, contracts
and other mechanisms
• ASTM E2394 Standard Practice for Maintenance, Renovation and Repair
of Installed Asbestos Cement Products (www.astm.org)
• United Kingdom, New Zealand, Australia publications
Confronting the Problem of New Products
• Discourage consumption by
• Creating awareness of hazards through outreach and
education
• Implementing regulatory and economic incentives and
penalties
• Supporting the development and economic use of
products with alternative fibers
• Reduce availability by
– Bans on importing and using asbestos fiber
– Disrupting supplies of cement
Disrupting supplies of cement
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• Every ton of asbestos fiber requires several tons of
cement to make asbestos-cement products
• Suppliers of cement contribute to the manufacture
of a hazardous product
• Suppliers of cement may be participating in a
criminal enterprise
Disrupting supplies of cement
• Identify the suppliers of cement to the asbestoscement industry in each country
• Domestic producers
• Importers
• Use moral persuasion and public exposure to
discourage them from supplying the asbestoscement market
• Identify target audiences and media resources
• Labor unions, investors, financial institutions
• Traditional and social media
Disrupting supplies of cement
• Use economic penalties and incentives to reduce
economic advantages of asbestos-cement
• Higher tariffs on imported cement, higher taxes on
domestic production, for use with asbestos fiber
• Subsidies on cement used with alternative fibers
• Use litigation and liability to put pressure on cement
companies
• Name cement companies as defendants in asbestos
litigation
• Advise insurance carriers of their potential risk
• Inform cement companies of threat of civil and criminal
penalties
Technical measures not enough
• Credible technical information essential to counter
arguments that asbestos-cement products are not
hazardous
– Industrial hygiene studies of fiber release and exposure
– Medical studies of health effects from exposure
– Practical measures for controlling exposure
• Elimination of asbestos-cement products requires
institutional actions – economic, financial and
political -- by advocates and activists
• Biographical summary of Andrew F. Oberta, MPH, CIH
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BS Aeronautical Engineering and Master of Public Health degrees
Certified in Comprehensive Practice by American Board of Industrial Hygiene
Over thirty years experience in asbestos consulting
Chairman of Task Group on Asbestos Management for ASTM International
Author of ASTM Manual on Asbestos Control
Presentations at seven international asbestos conferences from 2000 to 2012
• Mr. Oberta will organize a technical session for any conference which
addresses advocacy measures to confront and eventually eliminate the
asbestos-cement industry. For his contributions he will expect
reimbursement of travel and other direct expenses.
Andrew F. Oberta, MPH, CIH
The Environmental Consultancy
900 Route 620 South, Suite C101, M/S 101
Austin, TX 78734 United States
(512) 266-1368
[email protected] -- www.asbestosguru-oberta.com