Asbestos
Disease Awareness Organization Outraged that Seven Countries Prevented
the Inclusion of Chrysotile Asbestos in the UN Rotterdam Convention List
of Hazardous Substances
India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, the Russian Federation, Ukraine,
Vietnam, and Zimbabwe Opposed the Listing of Chrysotile Asbestos in the
Rotterdam Convention
The Asbestos
Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO), which combines education,
advocacy, and community as the leading U.S. organization serving as the
voice of asbestos victims, is outraged after the 2013 United Nations Rotterdam
Convention failed to reach consensus to add chrysotile asbestos to
the Prior Informed Consent (PIC) list of hazardous substances. All six
types of asbestos are carcinogenic, but chrysotile is the only type of
asbestos not included in the list. The Convention does not prohibit
trade of the listed substances, but requires exporters to establish
protocol to inform purchasers about the hazards related to the
substances. Of the 143 countries attending the conference, seven
countries - India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, the Russian Federation,
Ukraine, Vietnam, and Zimbabwe - opposed the listing.
"Asbestos-related diseases cause great human suffering. Death from
difficult-to-treat cancers and suffocation caused by asbestosis are
terrible ways to die," said Arthur L. Frank MD, Ph.D., Professor of
Public Health and Pulmonary Medicine, Drexel University. "The callous
disregard of some countries for educating workers condemns many to
unnecessary and painful deaths."
"Chrysotile asbestos is recognized by every leading world scientific
body as a cause of asbestosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma, as have all
other forms of commercially used asbestos that are currently listed on
the PIC List," said Richard Lemen, Ph.D., MSPH, Assistant Surgeon
General (ret.), Rear Admiral, USPHS (ret.); Adjunct Professor, Rollins
School of Public Health, Emory University. "But because chrysotile
asbestos remains the only type of asbestos commercially exploited, those
countries having a financial stake in its continued use have placed
profit and greed over the protection of the public's health, in order to
promote this carcinogenic product. Today, a few countries have again
blocked chrysotile's listing on the PIC by claiming it is not hazardous
and can be used safely. It is a farce for them to suggest continued
'controlled use' since by blocking its listing, the consumer is never
informed of chrysotile's hazardous nature. Thus, the pandemic of
asbestos-induced diseases that the world is currently experiencing will
continue to grow as thousands more uninformed users of this cancerous
material will face disease and death in their future. The action of
these few countries represents a callous disregard for human dignity and
life."
"It is reprehensible that India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, the Russian
Federation, Ukraine, Vietnam, and Zimbabwe used propaganda and
misinformation to block chrysotile asbestos from being added to the
Rotterdam Convention's list of hazardous substances," said Linda
Reinstein, Co-Founder and President of ADAO. "Each day, 300 innocent
people die from preventable asbestos-caused diseases, yet the asbestos
industry, including the Russian Chrysotile Association, continues to
promote the 'safe use' of chrysotile asbestos. Russia annually mines an
estimated 1,000,000 tons of asbestos and is responsible for half of the
world's chrysotile asbestos production. ADAO is a proud supporter of the 2013
Rotterdam Convention Alliance (ROCA) Position Paper, as well as
Association of Asbestos Victims Families (AFeVA) President Romana
Blasotti Pavesi's global asbestos victims solidarity letter, which
was endorsed by 55 asbestos victims' organizations. Asbestos victims
around the world will not be silenced by thugs and criminals profiting
from the deadly toxic trade. Instead, we will turn our grief, pain, and
anger into action as we continue global educational and advocacy
initiatives to collaboratively ensure chrysotile asbestos will be added
to the PIC List at the 2015 Rotterdam Convention."
Although the chrysotile asbestos industry argues that chrysotile
asbestos is safe, the World
Health Organization (WHO) states that all forms of asbestos are
carcinogenic to humans and may lead to mesothelioma and lung, larynx,
and ovarian cancer. WHO estimates that 107,000 workers die every year
from asbestos-related lung cancer, mesothelioma and asbestosis. One in
every three deaths from occupational cancer is caused by asbestos.
Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO) was founded by asbestos
victims and their families in 2004. ADAO seeks to give asbestos victims
and concerned citizens a united voice to raise public awareness about
the dangers of asbestos exposure. ADAO is an independent global
organization dedicated to preventing asbestos-related diseases through
education, advocacy, and community. For more information, visit www.asbestosdiseaseawareness.org.
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