In 2005, Egypt enacted Africa’s first asbestos ban. The Minister of Foreign Trade and Industry prohibited Egyptian companies from importing or manufacturing asbestos, as well as all forms of asbestos products.
Since Denmark became the first country in the world to regulate their asbestos industry, 54 countries have enacted a national ban on the fibers.
As of 2012, only four of these are African nations. They include:
Egypt
Gabon
South Africa
Mozambique
Africa’s 53 other countries permit some – or all – forms of asbestos production and consumption.
Many of Africa’s developing nations still produce and/or use asbestos for industrial purposes. The fibers are cheap, durable and readily available; as a result, many manufacturers still use asbestos to insulate and strengthen their products.
Africa’s Asbestos Industry
Africa imports some of its asbestos from other countries. However, Africa has historically produced much of its own asbestos. South Africa’s asbestos mining industry alone employed more than 20,000 people.
The Asbestos Mountains in the Northern Cape province of South Africa earned its name from the asbestos fibers that were scattered throughout the hills. The first mines appeared here in 1893.
In 2007, Zimbabwe, China, Kazakhstan, Brazil and Canada produced 96 percent of the world’s asbestos. That year, Zimbabwe mines produced 100,000 tons of chrysotile asbestos; they exported most of it to the United States in the form of milled grade 4 fibers.
Currently, Zimbabwe’s Shabani Mine is the only operating chrysotile mine on the African continent. It re-opened in early 2012 after ceasing operations in 2009.
Other asbestos mines were in operation across the continent in past decades. Cleanup efforts have been irregular at best, and many of the mines are still contaminated with the fibers. Area residents – along with former or current workers – are at risk for a number of asbestos-related diseases, including peritoneal malignant mesothelioma and lung cancer.
Health Effects
South Africa once had one of the highest mesothelioma incidence rates in the world. From 1995 to 2007, the country reported 2,509 total mesothelioma deaths.
The following table represents the predicted 15-year mesothelioma mortality for several African countries, as calculated by the National Institutes of Health. It also estimates the country’s cumulative use of asbestos (in tons) from 1920 to 1970.
Zimbabwe 447 deaths 122,595 tons
Algeria 337 deaths 90,005 tons
Swaziland 329 deaths 87,868 tons
Morocco 217 deaths 55,697 tons
Nigeria 140 deaths 34,443 tons
DR Congo 95 deaths 22,579 tons
Uganda 78 deaths 18,139 tons
Until all African nations adopt (and enforce) a comprehensive asbestos ban, these rates may continue to rise. As the WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr. Luis Gomes Sambo, explained, asbestos is “among the many preventable cancer risk factors,” and “it is only by every person, organization, and government individually doing their part that the world will be able to reduce premature deaths from cancer.”
Author bio: Faith Franz has spent nearly two years researching and writing for The Mesothelioma Center. As an advocate for alternative medicine, she encourages patients to explore all of the treatment options that could potentially save their life.
Come join the conversation on The Mesothelioma Center Facebook Page.
Sources:
International Ban Asbestos Secretariat. (26 August 2012). Retrieved from http://ibasecretariat.org/alpha_ban_list.php
Virta, R. L. United States Geological Survey – 2007 Minerals Yearbook. Asbestos [Advance Release]. (August 2008). Retrieved from http://minerals.usgs.gov/minerals/pubs/commodity/asbestos/myb1-2007-asbes.pdf
World Health Organization – Regional Office for Africa. Message of the WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Luis Gomes Sambo, on the Occasion of World Cancer Day 2012. Retrieved from http://www.afro.who.int/en/rdo/speeches/3535-world-cancer-day-2012.html
Kallet, M. P., Steiner, D. M., & Steiner, G. G. Environmental Influences on Cancer Incidence Rates in Sub-Saharan Africa. About Cancer in Africa. Retrieved from http://www.steinerlabs.com/africa_cancer.shtml
MBENDI – World Asbestos Mining. Retrieved from http://www.mbendi.com/indy/ming/asbs/p0005.htm
Kielkowski, D., Nelson, G., Bello, B., Kgalamono, S., & Phillips, J. I. (2011). Trends in mesothelioma mortality rates in South Africa: 1995-2007. British Medical Journal. Retrieved from http://oem.bmj.com/content/early/2011/03/19/oem.2010.062182.abstract
Park, E. K., Takahashi, K., Hoshuyama, T., Cheng, T. J., Delgermaa, V., Le, G. V., & Sorahan, T. (2011). Global Magnitude of Reported and Unreported Mesothelioma. Environmental Health Perspectives. Retrieved from http://www.curemeso.org/atf/cf/%7BEB9EC12A-9F10-428A-A38D-189F567FA6A5%7D/ehp.1002845.pdf
63 total views, 63 views today
Incoming search terms:
www environment co za prevalence-of-asbestos-in-africa-manufacturing-and-usage
The post Prevalence of Asbestos in Africa: Manufacturing and Usage appeared first on Environment News South Africa.