ASBESTOS in Construction

Severe Fatal Diseases caused by Chronic Exposure to Asbestos

Asbestosis irreversible scarring of lungs that causes a decrease in elasticity.
Exposures in the 1950s and 1960s
Lung cancer increased incidence in those working with asbestos. All types of
asbestos can cause the disease, worse with blue and brown. Smokers are more at risk.
Mesothelioma cancer of the lining of the chest or abdominal wall, worse with blue or
brown asbestos fibres, even with low or short exposures.
What is Asbestos?
- Mineral consists of needleshaped and threadlike fibers
that occur naturally.,
about 1,200 X smaller than I strand of hair
Fiber is a particle of asbestos with a diameter of <3 um and >5um in length, with
a length to diameter ratio of 3:1
TLV of 2 fiber/cc
Groups of Asbestos
Serpentine chrysotile (white)
Amphibole crocidolite (blue)
--amosite (brown)
Asbestos in the Philippines
Since 1954, ACM have been used in
Water pipe lines
Roofing materials in houses
Construction materials in building offices
Breaks
Lining of boilers
Workers at Risk
In construction: shipbuilding, many activities in construction, boiler work.

25% of the deaths are in people who have spent some of their working lives in the
building and maintenance trades.
Those in manufacturing of asbestoscontaining fibers.
heating and ventilating engineers,

roofing contractors,
fire and burglar alarm installers,

general maintenance workers,

electricians, plumbers, carpenters, joiners,
plasterers, painters and decorators,

gas fitters,
demolition workers,
U P P E R P E N T H O U S E 1 M E D I C A L P L A Z A M A KAT I C O N D O, A M O R S O L O S T R E E T
C O R N E R D E L A R O S A S T R E E T, L E G A S P I V I L L A G E , M A KAT I C I T Y,
P H I L I P P I N E S T E L E FA X : 0 2 8 4 1 0 0 5 4 ; 9 9 4 2 6 1 2 C E L : 0 9 0 8 7 6 1 9 0 6 3 / 0 9 1 7
8103016
E-mail: zaposh@yahoo.com; Website: www.zapohs.org

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ASBESTOS in Construction


telephone engineers, computer installation engineers,
site managers,
surveyors,

janitors
Workers in shipbreaking and ship building
Drivers
SAFETY PERSONNEL
Asbestos Production and Use
No asbestos mines in the Philippines
Importation of raw asbestos in MT as shown
Canada remains the biggest exporter of
chrysotile
From Y2003 to 2007 analysis of asbestos
Chrysotile type of asbestos mostly found in government and private offices. Ceiling
boards mostly contain gypsum, calcium silicate and calcium carbonates
For gaskets Chrysotile type of asbestos
TOXIC CHEMICALS & HAZARDOUS & NUCLEAR WASTE ACT (RA6969)
Chemical Control Order for Asbestos
Chrysotile is the only form allowed to be imported and used in the Philippines
Amosite and Crocidolite are strictly prohibited
No spraying of all forms of asbestos in buildings
No new use of asbestos
Profile of Companies registered as Asbestos Manufacturer and Importers
30 companies
Production of roofing materials highest quantity
Clutch disc/brake lining highest consumption
Workers Exposed to Asbestos
In manufacturing of construction materials using asbestos
5,000 workers
In asbestos handling tasks
Construction-related, transport, storage, trade, shipbreaking, shipbuilding, etc.
~ 100,000 workers and more
Asbestos Content in Finished Products
(Association of Asbestos Industries in the Philippines, 2001)
Asbestos products
Estimated % of asbestos in products
Construction materials
roof tiles
8%
sidings, walls and ceilings 8%
Insulator
No data
vinyl tiles
5%
Friction materials
clutch discs
45%
brake linings
45%
U P P E R P E N T H O U S E 1 M E D I C A L P L A Z A M A KAT I C O N D O, A M O R S O L O S T R E E T
C O R N E R D E L A R O S A S T R E E T, L E G A S P I V I L L A G E , M A KAT I C I T Y,
P H I L I P P I N E S T E L E FA X : 0 2 8 4 1 0 0 5 4 ; 9 9 4 2 6 1 2 C E L : 0 9 0 8 7 6 1 9 0 6 3 / 0 9 1 7
8103016
E-mail: zaposh@yahoo.com; Website: www.zapohs.org

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ASBESTOS in Construction

Gaskets
No data
PART II: Management and Control of Risk For Asbestos Exposure
Proper management of asbestos-containing materials and/or the use of
effective working methods will go a long way to preventing further exposure
from the deadly asbestos fibres
complying with the Toxic Substances Act and the OSHS and
working towards a COMPLETE BAN OF ASBESTOS
Management and Control of Risk
We need specific laws, policies, guidelines
- in premises
In schools
We need enforcement
We need capability building in recognition, technical analysis, in decision-making
We need to build capability of MDs and nurses to recognize asbestos-related problems in
diagnosis and management.
Policies and Laws On Asbestos
Chemical Control Order - DENR: regulation of chrysotile
Updating of DOLE OSH Standards
Legislative and Executive Ratification of Rotterdam Convention
Asbestos waste management and other legislative concerns
Bureau of Customs: Importation of asbestos
DPWH: toxic waste from asbestos
Asbestos exposed workers in Subic shipyard
Total no. of subjects screened
: 1,481
Total no. examined
: 593
Results available in 587
Age range
: 43 to 84 years old
Mean age
: 62.18 years old
Percentage Ever Smokers
: 92.74 %
Percentage Current Smokers
: 48.89 %
Asbestosis Diagnostic Criteria
Essential components :
A reliable and significant history of exposure
Radiographic changes of diffuse lung fibrosis on chest radiograph or CT scan
The absence of other medical illness which can mimic asbestosis
Confirmatory :
An appropriate time interval between exposure and detection (latency)
A restrictive pattern of lung function
Bilateral fixed inspiratory crackles
Clubbing of fingers and/or toes
U P P E R P E N T H O U S E 1 M E D I C A L P L A Z A M A KAT I C O N D O, A M O R S O L O S T R E E T
C O R N E R D E L A R O S A S T R E E T, L E G A S P I V I L L A G E , M A KAT I C I T Y,
P H I L I P P I N E S T E L E FA X : 0 2 8 4 1 0 0 5 4 ; 9 9 4 2 6 1 2 C E L : 0 9 0 8 7 6 1 9 0 6 3 / 0 9 1 7
8103016
E-mail: zaposh@yahoo.com; Website: www.zapohs.org

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ASBESTOS in Construction

LCP Asbestos Screening Program

Frequency Distribution and Percentage of Diagnosis
Diagnosis
Frequency
Percentage
Asbestosis/ Possible
366
62.35 %
Asbestos Pleural dis.
132
22.48 %
Combination
1
0.17 %
Poss. Cancer
15
2.55 %
Asbestosis + poss. Cancer
20
3.41 %
Negative
4
0.68 %
NOS
49
8.34 %
Legal Action against the US Bases
Class suits have been filed in the Philippines and in the United States
Most of the workers were given work-related compensation by the Philippines Social
Security System,

the US has granted compensation in some of the cases and others are still waiting for
judicial action
Current Concerns
U P P E R P E N T H O U S E 1 M E D I C A L P L A Z A M A KAT I C O N D O, A M O R S O L O S T R E E T
C O R N E R D E L A R O S A S T R E E T, L E G A S P I V I L L A G E , M A KAT I C I T Y,
P H I L I P P I N E S T E L E FA X : 0 2 8 4 1 0 0 5 4 ; 9 9 4 2 6 1 2 C E L : 0 9 0 8 7 6 1 9 0 6 3 / 0 9 1 7
8103016
E-mail: zaposh@yahoo.com; Website: www.zapohs.org

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ASBESTOS in Construction

Information the most low-cost houses built in 1950s used asbestos roofing materials
Economic aspects involved in changing/replacing asbestos containing materials
Removal and waste disposal of asbestos is inadequate (absence of special
landfills to contain asbestos containing materials)
Need to develop common position on chrysotile asbestos
Need to address asbestos replacement
Need to map out the extent of asbestos use in schools, houses and workplaces
Correct diagnosis of asbestos-related diseases and its work-relatedness

Rotterdam Convention
to monitor and control the trade in certain hazardous chemicals
If trade takes place, requirements for labeling and provision of information on potential
health and environmental effects
Date of Adoption: September 10, 1998
Entry into Force: February 24, 2004
Objectives:
shared responsibility and cooperative efforts among Parties in the international trade of
certain hazardous chemicals in order to protect human health and the environment from
potential harm;
What

Determines who are at Risk

cumulative dose,
time since last exposure
type and size of asbestos fibres. There is usually a long delay between the first exposure
to asbestos fibres and the diagnosis of disease; this ranges from between 15 to as many
as 60 years
Type of job
Absence of any policy and program on prevention, and management of risk

EXPOSURE ASSESSMENT Laboratory

QUALITATIVE ANALYSIS
X-ray Diffraction Method (XRD)
Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR)
EXPOSURE ASSESSMENT
Laboratory
QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS
Membrane Filter Method
(Phase Contrast Microscope)
Fiber is a particle of asbestos with a diameter of <3 um and >5um in length, with a
length to diameter ratio of 3:1
U P P E R P E N T H O U S E 1 M E D I C A L P L A Z A M A KAT I C O N D O, A M O R S O L O S T R E E T
C O R N E R D E L A R O S A S T R E E T, L E G A S P I V I L L A G E , M A KAT I C I T Y,
P H I L I P P I N E S T E L E FA X : 0 2 8 4 1 0 0 5 4 ; 9 9 4 2 6 1 2 C E L : 0 9 0 8 7 6 1 9 0 6 3 / 0 9 1 7
8103016
E-mail: zaposh@yahoo.com; Website: www.zapohs.org

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ASBESTOS in Construction

TLV of 2 fiber/cc

U P P E R P E N T H O U S E 1 M E D I C A L P L A Z A M A KAT I C O N D O, A M O R S O L O S T R E E T
C O R N E R D E L A R O S A S T R E E T, L E G A S P I V I L L A G E , M A KAT I C I T Y,
P H I L I P P I N E S T E L E FA X : 0 2 8 4 1 0 0 5 4 ; 9 9 4 2 6 1 2 C E L : 0 9 0 8 7 6 1 9 0 6 3 / 0 9 1 7
8103016
E-mail: zaposh@yahoo.com; Website: www.zapohs.org

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ASBESTOS in Construction