• Asbestos is a naturally occuring material.
• Chrysotile, known as White Asbestos.
• Crocidolite, known as Blue Asbestos.
• Amosite, known as Brown Asbestos.
• Different fibres have different risks in different processes.
• Chrysotile (White fibre) used in the manufacture of asbestos cement products under controlled conditions does not pose any health risk.
• Only Chrysotil (white fibre) is used in manufacturing of Asbestos Cement Products in India.
• Use of Chrysotile fibre in manufacturing Asbestos Cement products has definite history of safety.
• Blue fibres are banned in India.
• Health problems in the West in the past were due to different uses which are not relevant to Indian context. (refer to “Uses in Western World not relevant to India” for more details).
• No health problem is reported in West in Asbestos Cement products with Chrysotile (White fibre).
• Only 8 – 9% of Chrysotile fibres are used which are locked in cement matrix in Asbestos Cement Products and cannot escape into environment.
• No excess of Lung Cancer was observed in studies when White Asbestos is used in manufacture of cement products. (Dr.Gardner, Ohlson, H.F.Thomas, WHO, Health & Safety Executive, U.K.).
• No Lung Cancer observed in Asbestos Cement plants studies in India.
• Thousands of asbestos fibres, invisible, are inhaled by us every day from natural resources, without any harm.
• Fibre levels under asbestos cement roofs are of the same order in general environment and is never a problem.
• Ingestion of Asbestos fibres poses no health problems – WHO.
• Asbestos Cement Products are more strong, durable, economical, energy conserving and Eco-friendly.
• Most developed countries still use Asbestos cement products.
• The US Court of Appeals rejected a proposed ban on scientific grounds. Asbestos Cement products are not banned in the USA.
• India uses only 8% of Chrysotile Asbestos World consumption.