Use of asbestos to pose major health hazard: Experts

[Gopal Krishna]

Use of asbestos to pose major health hazard: Experts

 

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Ahmedabad, Dec 15 (PTI) Increase in use of asbestos by industries in India could pose a major health hazard in the coming years, experts, involved in creating awareness about the substance banned in over 50 countries, said here today.

 

Barry Castleman, international expert on asbestos, Dr Domyung Peak from Seoul & Wonjin Institute of Occupational and Environmental Health, Seoul, S Korea and Takhito Murayam, professor of environmental policy and planning, Waseda University, Japan, actively involved in creating awareness on hazards of asbestos, said that developing countries need to drastically cut down use of the 'banned' substance.

 

"The use of asbestos in India and China is growing at an alarming rate of nine per cent per annum," Castleman told mediapersons here.

 

"There are about 100,000 deaths world over due to past use of asbestos that is exposure to the substance which was used years ago in construction, ship-building and other materials.