Title:Asbestos-Related Diseases: Still a Concern in Emerging Economies in the Absence of an International Ban
Volume: 12
Issue: 1
Author(s): Arthur L. Frank
Affiliation:
Keywords:
Asbestos, chrysotile, amphibole, international ban, cancer, fibrosis.
Abstract: Asbestos has been known for many years to cause a range of both non-malignant and
malignant diseases. Over fifty countries have totally banned the use of asbestos, but in emerging
economies there continues to be considerable use of asbestos. Unfortunately, the United States is one
of the very few developed countries that has not banned the use of this material due to industry
intransigence. With the continued use of asbestos because of the lack of a worldwide ban there can be
expected to be disease well into the future, for at least fifty more years, due to the long latency period
for disease development. Stopping the use of asbestos has been shown to decrease the incidence, as
seen in Sweden, of disease and is clearly the recommended path forward.
