Zimbabwe to Support Chrysotile Asbestos Mining
Zimbabwe supports mining and utilization of chrysotile asbestos since according to them, it's been scientifically proven as harmless.
Mr Lancaster Museka, The Secretary for Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare said that the type of asbestos mined in Zimbabwe was not harmful. "We thought it was ideal to sensitize our colleagues on the issue of white chrysotile asbestos and we held a side meeting in which we explained to the region that the type of asbestos we mine here in Zimbabwe was not harmful and safe to use," Mr Museka said.
He said that most countries are not aware that the white chrysotile is not harmful and it is often confused with the brown and blue type, which is harmful and kills people.
Mr Museka said that he would like to invite member countries to visit Zimbabwe to see how the mining of white asbestos is being done in accordance with ILO conventions on safe mining and use of asbestos.
The fiber toxicology experts in Zimbabwe criticized the backers of asbestos ban for their commercial interests and also told ministers and officials of International Labour Organization that they are ignoring the fact that the white chrysotileis different from blue and brown types.
Asbestos is the generic term for a number of naturally occurring fibrous minerals. Commercially, the most important of these are the white, blue, and brown varieties, otherwise known as chrysotile (a serpentine asbestos), crocidolite, and amosite. Blue and brown variety of asbestos have been in banned almost all countries however the white asbestos still remains in the market. Mainly it's being mined in Russia, Brazil, China, Zimbabwe and Canada. A major part of this asbestos is exported to United States of America where it is widely used in the production of brake pads, water pipes and roofing material.
Even white asbestos has been banned in many European Union countries as it's been proved to be hazardous. The HSE (Health and Safety Executive, UK) has confirmed on 5th Feb 2007 that white asbestos (chrysotile) is a major health hazard. According to their studies, long-term exposure to any type of asbestos can lead to the development of asbestosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma.
