Confronting the

International AsbestosCement 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.

Where does asbestos fiber

come from?
World Mine Production and Reserves: 2011
Production, tons

Russia
1,000,000
China
400,000
Brazil
270,000
Kazakhstan
210,000
Canada
100,000
Othercountries
20,000
Worldtotal(rounded)
2,000,000

Reserves

Large
Large
Moderate
Large
Large
Moderate
200,000,000

Source:U.S.G.S.MineralCommoditySummaries,January2012

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?
2010consumptioninmetrictons

China - 613,760
India - 426,363
Russia - 263,037
Brazil - 139,153
Indonesia - 111,848

Developingcountriesaretargetmarkets
Evenindustrializedcountriesmaylackahealth
andenvironmentalprotectioninfrastructurefor
asbestoshazards

Hazards of producing the

fiber
Mining, milling, transportation

Hazards of manufacturing the

products

Hazards of manufacturing the

products
Representativesoftheworld'smajorchrysotileexportingminessignedan
agreementwherebytheycommittedtosupplychrysotilefibreonlytothose
companiesthatdemonstratecompliancewithnationalhealthandsafety
regulations.--TheChrysotileInstitute
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
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

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
asbestos-cement industry in each country
Domestic producers
Importers

Use moral persuasion and public exposure

to discourage them from supplying the
asbestos-cement 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 asbestoscement
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
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
andyobe@aol.com -- www.asbestosguru-oberta.com