Asbestos Diseases

Asbestos inhalation in excessive doses for a prolonged period can result in 3 types of diseases, namely, respiratory problems leading to  Asbestosis,  Mesothelioma lung cancer and other respiratory 

It has been found in various scientific studies that Mesothelioma is associated with the use of Blue asbestos known as Crocidolite.   It has been observed that only Chrysotile type White Asbestos is used within stipulated pollution control levels, these diseases can be prevented.

According to (Environmental Health Criteria) Document No. 203, a World Health Organization's publication of 1998, Asbestosis occurred only at exposure levels of 5 to 20 fibres per cubic centimeter of air over a period of 40 years.   

The exposure levels in the asbestos-cement factories in general has been  well below 0.5 fibres per cc and has progressively been brought down to 0.1 fibre/cc with stringent pollution control systems.   This level renders asbestos absolutely harmless.  The Factories Act in India, stipulates a safe level of 1 fibre per cc.

Even at construction sites where ac roofing sheets, etc are installed with the help of hand-driven tools, dust concentrations were noted to be less than 0.1 fibres per cc.

It may be concluded that chrysotile asbestos fibres can be used quite safely without harming the workers in the ac factories or general public or the surrounding environment.