Why do Asbestos Cement Indutry sometimes come across negative propaganda ?
When health related issues about asbestos are discussed, it is essential to note that there are different types of asbestos fibre, varied processes adopted to manufacture asbestos based products and differences in the dust levels in the work places. It should be noted that asbestos cement products consists of 8% white asbestos (Chrysotile), 40% cement, 30% fly ash, 20% water and 2% cellulose. Chrysotile is a natural mineral fibre without any known hazard under controlled usage. Regarding the three basic asbestos related diseases, namely Asbestosis, Lung Cancer and Mesothelioma, it has found that Asbestosis occurs at constant exposure levels of 5 – 20 fibres per cc of air over a period of 40 years while the current Indian exposure is within 0.5 fibres per cc. Secondly, Mesothlioma is associated with Crocidolite(Blue) Asbestos, which is not used in India. And lastly, being a serpentine mineral, it differs from its harmful Amphibole counterpart. Magnesium is on the outside of the lattice
