The long and winding legislative road (original) (raw)

Menace of Asbestos: Health Impact and Politics

Background: Asbestos is identified as a hazardous substance of public health concern and has led to its regulation or ban in many countries. Local and international politics have hampered the regulation and outright ban of this hazardous substance in many countries. While UK and USA did not out rightly ban but regulated its use, most developing countries continue in the production, sale and use of asbestos mostly due to economic reasons. The objective of this review is to identify previous publications on asbestos highlighting health effects and politics bordering its regulation. Also to recommend measures to curtail its production, use and sale especially in developing countries. Methods: A systematic review to identify suitable studies from MEDLINE and Electronic search through GOOGLE for original, review articles and documents on politics, law and health effects of asbestos. A total of 19 articles and online documents were finally selected and reviewed after screening out those not falling within the inclusion criteria. Results: The materials used in this review highlight the negative health impact of asbestos in various countries. Factors identified as militating against effective regulation or ban of this hazardous substance in many counties includes politics, economic gain, ignorance and unavailability of safe asbestos substitutes. Conclusion: Though the production and sale of asbestos have decreased in many developed countries, many developing countries still trade in this hazardous substance with its attendant health consequences. Increased political will, continuous research on health impact and financial aid to developing nations to acquire alternatives will help to reduce the menace of asbestos.

Toward an Asbestos Ban in the United States

International journal of environmental research and public health, 2017

Many developed countries have banned the use of asbestos, but not the United States. There have, however, been multiple efforts in the US to establish strict exposure standards, to limit asbestos use, and to seek compensation through the courts for asbestos-injured workers' In consequence of these efforts, asbestos use has declined dramatically, despite the absence of a legally mandated ban. This manuscript presents a historical review of these efforts.

Asbestos Ban in Italy: A Major Milestone, Not the Final Cut

International journal of environmental research and public health, 2017

Italy was the main asbestos producer and one of the greatest consumers in 20th century Europe until the asbestos ban was introduced in 1992. Asbestos exposure affected the population in a wide range of working environments, namely mining and marketing of asbestos, asbestos cement production, shipyards and textile industries. This also determined a widespread environmental asbestos exposure affecting the surrounding communities. To investigate the drivers and difficulties of the process leading to the asbestos ban and its subsequent implementation, we focused on stakeholder involvement, environmental health policies, capacity building and communication. In the past three decades, stakeholder involvement has been instrumental in advancing the industrial asbestos replacement process, prevention and remediation interventions. Furthermore, involvement also contributed to the integration of environmental and health policies at national, regional and local levels, including capacity buildi...

Asbestos as Environmental and Legal Issue

International Conference on International …, 2007

In this article authors examine historical and social context in which asbestos became one of the major building materials in the World and how it became a serious threat to the environment and human health. Authors are focusing on two major topics connected with asbestos, first is geological one: what are the characteristics of asbestos, how it was used and what are concrete medical and environmental problems related to it and the second, which covers comparative legal issues for preventing and sanctioning unlawful use or handling of that hazardous material.

Global use of asbestos - legitimate and illegitimate issues

Journal of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology, 2020

Background Exposure to asbestos causes non-malignant and malignant diseases including asbestosis, lung cancer, and mesothelioma. The modern history of such diseases goes back more than a century. Main text While much is known about the ability of asbestos to cause disease, the carcinogenic mechanism is not yet understood. Continuing legitimate scientific questions include such issues as potential differential toxicity and carcinogenicity of different fiber types. Illegitimate issues include the supposed “safe” use of asbestos, and the chrysotile hypothesis. Conclusion Asbestos disease issues are highly politicized and vested economic interests perpetuate false issues regarding the hazards of asbestos.