Global Asbestos Facts

Global asbestos facts

This article looks at the global asbestos facts and reports relating to asbestos consumption, asbestos related diseases and general asbestos statistics.

1. Asbestos is known as the human carcinogen which means it is a substance that is an agent directly involved in causing cancer. There is no safe level of asbestos exposure any level is deemed dangerous.
2. 55 countries banned the use of asbestos, however the U. S. and Canada have not. According to USGS reports in 2012; the U. S. imported over 1,000 tons of asbestos.
3. The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that over 107,000 people die annually from asbestos related
   

   Global Asbestos Facts – Chrysotile Asbestos

   diseases asbestosis and mesothelioma as a result of workplace exposure

4. Chrysotile asbestos accounts for 95% of asbestos mined and exported. USGS reports in 2012 show the top four countries producing chrysotile were Russia, Brazil, Kazakhstan and China.
5. Russia is the leading producer of asbestos worldwide, in 2014 alone Russia produced 1, 1 million metric tons. Second to Russia is China who produced 400,000 metric tons in 2014 followed by Brazil who produced 311,000 metric tons and followed by Kazakhstan.
6. Asbestos fibers can be 700 times smaller than a human hair. The fibers are odorless, tasteless and indestructible. They can stay suspended in the air for seconds.
7. The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that about 125 million people in the world are exposed to asbestos in the workplace
8. The World Health Organisation (WHO) states that one in every three deaths related to workplace cancer is caused by asbestos.
9. The World Health Organisation (WHO) states that it is estimated that several thousands of deaths can be attributed annually to asbestos exposure in the living environment.
10. United States Geological Survey (USGS) reports in 2014 that asbestos use in the U. S. was 400 tons
11. United States Geological Survey (USGS) reports in 2014 that the chloralkali industries accounted for an estimated 88% of U. S. consumption.
12. Many products still have asbestos in them today, though they are mainly used for construction.