Daily Times

KARACHI: Ministries of Industry and Health have not been able to announce ban of manufacturing, import and use of asbestos sheets.

Thousands of documented and undocumented cottage industries in the several industrial estates and parts of cities in the country have asbestos sheets sheds where they manufacture their respective products.

Besides uncounted bakeries and food outlets are working under asbestos sheets sheds and portions unnoticed by health and relevant government authorities.

The leading industrialist and health experts have great concern over the use of asbestos sheets in the manufacturing premises.

Besides workers at asbestos sheets manufacturing units and industries using asbestos for their product urged the concerned ministries to put a mechanism for an immediate ban on all forms of asbestos in the country.

A substance that has been considered a leading cause of cancer and lung disease-asbestosis affects the persons in long used of asbestos.

Chrysotile asbestos, a hazardous substance is used in making asbestos sheets.

Senior executive member of Pakistan Tanners Association, Agha Saiddain was of the view that asbestos has been used widely in many industries.

Despite we are industrialist but we can suggest all those industrial concerns to remove asbestos sheets from their manufacturing units for the safeguard of their workers’ health.

Chemically, asbestos minerals are silicate compounds, meaning they contain atoms of silicon and oxygen in their molecular structure.

He informed that building and construction industries for strengthening cement and plastics as well as for insulation, roofing, fireproofing and sound absorption are using this material.

The shipbuilding industry, automotive industry, vehicle brake shoes and clutch pads, floor tiles, paints, coatings and adhesives, plastics industries are in use of asbestos in many forms.

Pakistan should list chrysotile asbestos in United Nations’ hazardous substances list in conference being held at Rotterdam Convention, Geneva and also to ban all forms of asbestos in Pakistan, opined Ghulam Rabbani, senior executive member of Pakistan Yarn Merchants Association.

People may be exposed to asbestos in their workplace, their communities, or their homes. If products containing asbestos are disturbed, tiny asbestos fibers are released into the air. Large quantities of fibres are imported from countries such as Brazil, Russia, and Kazakhstan. Pakistan imported over 2,900 metric tonnes of asbestos fibres in 2015 and used more than 35,000 tonnes of product during 2009 and 2012.

In 2015, Rotterdam Convention, Pakistan opposed the listing of chrysotile asbestos in the Prior Informed Consent list.

Considering the public health disaster caused by chryotile asbestos, over 55 countries have banned any use of asbestos. There is no systematic monitoring and reporting of asbestos-related diseases in Pakistan.

Dr Ishrat Nisa, Director Umer Khanum Clinic in SITE area opined that asbestos exposure may also increase the risk of asbestosis (an inflammatory condition affecting the lungs that can cause shortness of breath, coughing, and permanent lung damage and other nonmalignant lung and pleural disorders.

Everyone is exposed to asbestos at some time during their life. Low levels of asbestos are present in the air, water, and soil.

Shortness of breath, wheezing, or hoarseness, persistent cough that gets worse over time, coughed up from the lungs, pain or tightening in the chest, difficulty swallowing, swelling of the neck or face, loss of appetite, weight loss and fatigue can be attributed to the long exposure of asbestos. Keeping in line with Labour Day May 1, representatives of National Trade and Union Federation also demanded the government to ban the use of asbestos sheets in industrial units besides taking corrective measures at asbestos manufacturing units.