Mesothelioma, an aggressive and rare form of cancer that attacks the lining of the vital organs in the body such as the lungs, heart and abdomen has been directly linked to asbestos exposure. Despite being banned in 52 countries, asbestos is still currently used around the world and an estimated 125 million people are exposed to asbestos while at work each year.
“The Case for a Global Ban on asbestos,” a 2010 study, showed that even if workers were exposed to the acceptable limit for asbestos, seven out of every 1,000 workers would die from an asbestos-related disease in their lifetime. The scientific community is in overwhelming agreement as well, stating that there is no safe level of asbestos exposure.
The study discussed the exponential increase in the mortality rate from pleural cancer in asbestos-mining communities such as Libby, Montana. Residents in communities such as these frequently developed respiratory symptoms associated with asbestos-contaminated vermiculite exposure.
Communities that were in close proximity to naturally occurring asbestos were not exempt from an increased risk of malignant mesothelioma either. In California, residences showed an increased rate of asbestos-related disease such as mesothelioma when asbestos was found in the environmental conditions.
Despite the best efforts of lobby groups associated with the asbestos mining industry, numerous epidemiologic studies, case reports, controlled animal experiments and toxicological studies have proven that asbestos is not safe. They have shown through numerous scientific studies that asbestos fibers carry heightened risk of developing mesothelioma and others asbestos-related disease.
While all forms of asbestos are banned in 52 countries, two million tons of asbestos are still produced each year. International organizations around the world have condemned the use of asbestos in an attempt to eliminate the development of any asbestos-related diseases.
Scientists hypothesize that if the global use of asbestos was ceased today, the onset of asbestos-related diseases would decrease dramatically in approximately 20 years. They believe that 10 million lives will be taken before the ban on asbestos is endorsed worldwide.
However, despite the best efforts of international organizations and scientific communities, asbestos is still widely used in many countries around the world, including the United States where it is only regulated and not banned. Some countries such as Kazakhstan, Vietnam, Russia, Zimbabwe and Kyrgyzstan vehemently oppose the ban on asbestos in their countries. Because of this and other countries such as Canada promoting asbestos use globally, people around the world are put at risk to develop an asbestos-related disease by the resistance of a few asbestos-producing countries.
Additional information on mesothelioma and asbestos exposure may be found through the mesothelioma Center.