Document N2RXGqw3qXN5dBYkOwEDr07NV
FILE NAME: Asbestos International Association (AINT)
DATE: 1978 Feb 2
DOC#: AINT006
DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION: Public Comments on the European Parliament's Motion for a Resolution on the Health Hazards of Asbestos [Note - Many originals are on legal size paper so text looks small when reprinted on 8.5x11 paper]
ASBESTOS INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION
E.E.C. of the A.I.A.
DOCUMENT A1A / E F C /3 2 .1
2 f e b r u a r y 1278
COMMENTS o n th e
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT'S
HOT!OK rOR ft RESOLUTION OK THE HEALTH HAZARDS SF ASBESTOS
DOC. 344/77
(" EilftHS REPORT ") JH M
07537
T H E EUROPEAN PAfiLIASSEMT DOC.344/77
IH0T10H FOR A RESOLUTION 0 THE HEAITH- HA ZAR DS Of ASBESTOS
Thi- E u ro p ea n P a r lia m e n t, [laving r e g a r d to . . . etc.
1. W elcom es the effort being m ade by the C o m m iss io n in tiie field of study and r e s e a r c h into the effects of a sb e sto s on human health; considers, however, that sufficient evidence has accumulated to show that asbestos presents a danger both to w orkers m the a sb e s to s industry and to those exposed in other situations and that it is tim e to draw conclusions from tills evidence;
3. s t r e s s e s that a sb e sto s is a carcinogen;
4. e m p h a s iz e s that all va rie tie s of a sb e sto s in use in the Community can p re s e n t a da n g er to human health;
5. en dorses the view that further r e s e a rc h into dose/effect relationships is necessary; since as yet no agree m e n t can be found as to whetiier a "safe level of exposure" exists;
6. c a l l s for the s e t t i n g , at C o m m u n i t y lev el , of t e m p o r a y l i m i t s and
relevant ir.easuringmethods ,
based on the evaluation of
the carcinogenic risk. Such lim its m ust be regularly reviewed
by die competent authorities;
7. calls for a ban on crocidolite in all M e m b e r States;
nu oto Hr
B. c a l l s f o r a b a n on t h e s p r a y i n g o f a s b e s t o s in a l l M e m b e r States,
1 COMMENTS Of THE
E.E.C. ABViSOnV COMMITTEE
OF THE A.!.A.
2. b y I n s i s t i n g o n c o n c l u s i o n s to b e d r a w n a l r e a d y , t h e m o t i o n s e e m s to wish to anticipate the findings of the working groups and c o m m itte e s who are, at p re sen t, studying this evidence (D. G. Ill, D . G . V and others). See Appendix i 2.
3. c a r c i n o g e n i c effec t is a t t r i b u t e d n o w a d a y s to ab o u t 3 . 0 0 0 substances. Asbestos, when used without the n e ce ssa ry p r e cautions, p r e s e n ts tills danger a s well, and m ust, hence, be used correctly.
4. it is not disputed that all v a rie tie s have been a sso c ia te d with this r is k , but this is only the c ase wiien r e s p i r a b l e a s b e s to s
"Tine'"crust,' which m ay be produced when asb e sto s is used without the n e c e ssa ry precautions, is inhaled in harm ful quantities. T h e re Is no conclusive evidence of r i s k from ingestion. See Appendix 4.
5. the s u g g e s t e d r e s e a r c h is going on v e r y a c t i v e l y . A s r e g a r d s the e x is te n c e of a "s afe level of e x p o s u r e " , it m u s t be kept in mind that cases of asbestos cancer appearing today are caused by w o rk in g conditions 20 to 40 y e a r s ago, when c o n c e n tr a t io n s of respirable asbestos fibre are known to have been very much h i g h e r than they a r e today. See A ppendix 5.
6. m o s t of the M e m b e r Sta te s have a l r e a d y ad opted, following the exam ple of the U .K ., a limit bused on the available m edical facts. This limit should onviously be kept under review in the light of new m edical evidence. It is a g r e e d t h at it is e s s e n t i a l to s t a n d a r d i z e m e t h o d s of mea su r e rn e n t.
7. op in io n in t h e m e d i c a l w or l d is not u n a n i m o u s that cro ci ci o lit e is m ore dangerous than any other variety of a sb e sto s F u r t h e r m o re , t h e r e a r e som e applications where the use of crocidolite is e sse n tia l and where it can be used under adequately controlled c o n d it i o n s. See App endi x 5 7.
8. the i n d u s t r y agi e e s that a s b e s t o s s ho u l d not be u s e d In a p p l i c a t i o n s t.lieie tite control ol r e s p ira b le a s b e s t o s fibres is difficult to enstii e undet iiurm'tl oper.itmg conditions. A sb esto s spi tiymg has been abandoned already m some M em ber States.
f. UROPEt l PARLIAMENT - HO IGM FOR A K L ^ O l . l l ' f l B ON Till:
Ili.AI.TII IIA2M1GS OF A S n t S T O S
1 9. c a l l s for the c o m p u l s o r y i n s t a l m e n t in all M e m b e r S t a te s , w h e r e asbestos is handled, of titters designed to reduce the concentra tion of asbestos particle s in the air.
1 0 . i n v i t e s t he C o m m i s s i o n t o r e v i e w , w i t h a view, t o - h a r m o n i z a t i o n , the provisions of the M em ber States with re g ard to com p en sa tion for asbestos related diseases;
11. invites the C om m ission to m ak e a s im ila r review of current legislation relating to safety in the asbestos industry also with a view to harmonization;
12. hopes that the proposal for a directive on m isleading a d v e r tising prom ised by the C om m ission will contain provisions to protect the public from the type of irresponsible advertising cam paign that has been launched concerning asbestos in some M em ber States;
13.
: Id. j
in sists on the right of all m e m b e r s of the population to unbiased information, particularly in areas such as public health;
calls for a Community-w<de information campaign to be initiated to inform the public in a rational m anner of the advantages and disadvantages connected with the use of asbestos;
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15. c a l l s upon the c o m m i s s i o n to in clu d e a s b e s t o s in Annex I o f the Council D i r e c t iv e of 27 J u n e 1967 c o n ce rning the approximation of the laws, regulations and administrative provisions relating to the classification, packaging and labelling of dangerous substances;
16. c a l l s upon the C o m m i s s i o n to in c lu d e a s b e s t o s in the An ne x of Council Directive of 27 July 1976 on the approxim ation of the laws, regulations and a d m in is tr a tiv e provisions of the M em ber States relating to re stric tio n s on the m arketing and use of certain dangerous substances and preparations.
COMMI l i : OK TIK C . . C . A D V I S O H Y C O M M I T T E E O F T H E A . I . A .
9. .th e industry fully u n d e rsta n d s the need lor a p p ro p ri a te dust extraction equipment designed to reduce the concentration o f r e s p i r a b l e a s b e s t o s f i b r e in w o r k p l a c e s . It h a s a l r e a d y devoted substantial capital investm ent for this purpose. The regulations already enforced in m ost M em ber States specify the provision of sucli equipment a s an obligation.
10. the industry considers it to be d e s ira b le that the c rite ria for assessing disability due to asbestos exposure should be consistent among all M em ber States. With re g a rd to c o m pensation, the whole system of social insurance would need to be h a rm onize d in ord e r to achieve consistency.
11. the industry agree s in principle with the need for consistency in safety regulations. Most M em ber States have already adopted regulations which a r e to a considerable extent consistent in their requirem ents. The industry considers that adequate and harm onized regulations should be adopted throughout the community.
12. the A sbestos industry is a re sp o n sib le industry and is in favour of unbiased information of its employees and of the general public. A s such, it h a s h a d to defend its e lf a g a in s t b ia s e d a tta ck s, based on e x a g e ra te d o r false s ta te m e n ts . E vidence can be produced to confirm that information given was checked with i m p a r t i a l and e x p e r t s o u r c e s . It c an a l s o be s t a t e d wjth confidence that the Industry iias taken a very responsible a tti tude in providing technical advice on dust m easurem ent, tech nical controls of dust and work practices designed for the pro tection of the health of w orkers. A number of publications by die Industry have been quoted and recom m ended by National and International organisations, such as the I.L..O.
14. the industry lias not been inactive in tins field. The A. I.A ., for its part, has the sam e objective in view and would w el come the opportunity to harm onize its action with the one the motion calls for. However, it feels that the Governm ent org a n is atio n s in eacli c ountry can best decide how and in which m a n n e r it can p r o m o te a p p r o p r i a te Information. S e e A p p e n d i x 14 .
15.. the study of these points by the working groups engaged in these 16. p r o b l e m s (D. G, HI and o t h e r s ) i s a l r e a d y in an a d v an c ed s t a t e .
rrrr -3-
I
/
EUROPEAN P ARLI AMENT - MOTION POR A RESOLUTI ON ON THE
HEALTH HAZARDS OF ASBESTOS
17. c o n s i d e r s that e v e r y effort should be m a d e to develop safe substitutes for asbestos and that, as these substitutes become available, the use of asbestos should be gradually phased out; where safe substitutes already exist, the use of asbestos should be forbidden;
:
18. u r g e s the C o m m i s s io n to sponsor i e s e a r c h into the development of safe and practical substitutes for asbestos, priority being given to substitutes for asbestos applications presently involving high exposure ris k to asbestos fibres;
19. i n v it e s de C o m m i s s i o n to in c l u d e the s i t in g of a s b e s t o s f a c t o r i e s and waste dum ps among the projects for which environmental impact a sse ss m e n t could be used;
20. calls th e re fo re on the C om m ission to lay down as soon as possible, safety standards in work places where asbestos is handled, that a r e binding on all the M e m b e r States.
21. invites the C o m m issio n to take steps to ensure that smoking is prohibited w hever asb esto s is handled.
22 r e c o m m e n d s that the C o m m i s s i o n m a k e full u se of the w o r k being done by the E uropean Foundation for the Im provem ent of Living and Working Conditions particularly concerning safety in the workplace;
23 i n s t r u c t s its P r e s i d e n t to fo r w a r d this r e s o l u t i o n and the r e p o r t ' of u s com m ittee to the Council and Com m ission of the Euroj ean Com m unities, and for information, to the Economic and Socia Committee.
_
. 1 ,
, ,
COMMENTS OF TUE E . E . C . ADVI SOPY COMMITTEE OF THE A . I . A .
17. it will not be p o s s ib l e to prove the safety of r e p l a c e m e n t p r o ducts in a sh o rt tim e, as very liltle is known about the long te rm effects of exposure to such new products. F o r asbestos, the consequences of exposure a re understood and sale methods of working have been developed, w hereas the effects of exposure to re p lacem en t products a re still to be experienced.. T h e use of a sb e sto s should only be r e s tr ic te d in c a s e s w here esc ape of fibres in a high dust concentration cannot be prevented.
18. tliose a p p l i c a t i o n s of a s b e s t o s , for which it h a s been found i m pra c tic a b le to d evise efficient control of dust, have a lre ad y been re pla ce d to a con sid era b le extent by alternative m a te ria ls .
19, the lo c a tio n of sucli s i t e s is a l r e a d y done in m o s t M e m b e r Sta te s on the b a s is of th eir possible impact on the environm ent. The industry is in favour of such m e a s u r e s for new factories of all kinds and for system atic monitoring of existing plants.
20. in m o s t M e m b e r States re g u la tio n s a lre a d y e xist. In those
countries where they do not, we a g ree that r u le s for safety
.
should be speedily Introduced, having due regard to technical,
economical and social implications.
21. the industry a g r e e s with the desirability of discouraging cigarette smoking, but is doubtful of the practicability of a prohibition.
22. the industry a g re e s that any relevant information should be
'
utilised. T here are many well established and competent
,
o rg a n is m s of which full use should be made.
23. No c o m m e n t.
T
I
- 4APPENDIX TO THE COMMENTS OF THE
K .E .C . ADVISORY COM MITT EE OF T H E ASBESTOS INTER NAT IONA I , ASSOCIATION
5 2 In E u r o p e . C o m m i s s i o n w o r k i n g g r o u p s u n d e r D i r e c t o r a t e s III a n d
iind the E n v i r o n m e n t and C o n s u m e r s ' P r o t e c t i o n S e r v i c e a r e stu d y i n g the p r o -
blems of asbestos under various headings :
^ m arketlng and use
(2) health and s a f e t y in the w o r k p l a c e
'
(3) classification and labelling (4) p r o p o s a l for a d i r e c t i v e on toxic and d a n g e r o u s w a s te
(5) public health r i s k s
,,
a
is considering in great depth and with a balanced responsibility the m ed ical and scientific evidence
uf. .,.p .r .. U , . . present ev.dence .,, d ,,, , .r m . t i . ,, in .nppor. ,,t Ih.lr ,, ,, p e n , . .
Recommendations are expected at any time.
*u j j
i ,. , rp ai r ^ 'u lv s t a r t e d t e n y e a r s ago d r a w i n g c o n c l u s i o n s f r o m t h is
a s b e s t o s r r e g i H a U o r mCw e r ' e ^ ^ d i r^ecdf res^uit ^ o f c o n c l u s i o n s f r o m e v i d e n c e a v a i l a b l e a t t h a t t i m e , a n d E E C m e m b e r s t a t e s
e v i d e n c e , t h e 1969 UK. have in the m eantim e followed.
5 4.
in ord e r to a s s e s s c o r re c tl y the r e a l sice of the potential ris k s , it is e s s e n tia l to r e a l i s e that these r i s k s e xist only when r e s p i r a b l e dust is created.
T here is no conclusive evidence of ris k s through contact with the skin or even through ingestion The health h a z a r d s a r is e from
form of exposure com p a red with commonly known toxic chemical substances : a sbestos is not a pols .
r h
in a works lace o - in a product is not a sufficient condition for the existence of health h a z a r d s .
T h e m e r e p r e s e n c e o f a s b e s t o s i n a w o x k p i a c e o- i n a P* * ^
under the condition of AIRBORNE RESPIRABLE DUST is there a positive health hazard.
a totally different Only when present
Hence, the r i s k s can be elim inated by preventing asb e sto s fibres from becom ing a ir b o r n e .
.
This is the case in m ost asbestos containing finished products in presen t day use. and particularly in those products, such as a sb e sto s-c e m e n t.
where the fibres a re u
substantially
, ...
.
"locked in". v to be c r eated
lo r
| (by handling of pure
Instn.i(-e) on . . .
fibre,
manufacturing processes, . I P TM =" > P-- ">
or processing of asbestos
containing
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.
. ,
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IP. I
1 .iqnHalcd wltii e x p o s u r e to r e s p i r a b l e a s b e s t o s f i b r e r e l a t e to c on d it i o n s of m a n u f a c t u r e
5 5. It d o e s n o t .e m ` be4 " y e a r s ^ a g o " " C o n d i t i o n s ` t o d a y i n m o s t f a c t o r i e s o f E E C m e m b e r c o u n t r i e s a r e e n t i r e l y d i f f e r e n t b u t t h e e f f e c t o f t h e s e i m
proved c o n d m o n s will only be apparent with the p a ssa g e of time. T his is due to the long latent period between the onset of e x p o su re and die m om ent
the disease appears.
,,
, ,
, s iIldeed a l m o s t i m p o s s i b l e to d e t e r m i n e a t h e o r i t i c a l l y " s a f e " l ev e l below which NO e f f e c t can be p r o d u c e d in the s t r i c t
* ....
. . .... . .............................................. . ^
^
. * > - . . .
table. ew of tl;e d o s e - r e s p o n s e r e la tio n s h ip , studies have been going on for m a n y y e a r s in m any m e m b e r s t a te s .
m dustry fully a g re e s with the "necessity for further r e s e a rc h " the m otion calls for. since it continues to sponsor r e s e a r c h such as it has been taking in c o lla b o r a tio n with governm ent and other institutions for m an y y e a r s .
IL
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7. The indiscrim inate banning of crocidolite is considered unju&tified. The association of lung cancer and m esotheliom a with crocidolite is related to inadequately controlled use in the past, resulting in high dust concent r a t i o n a n d , c o n s e q u e n t l y h i g h d o s e s o f e x p o s u r e , e v e n 1'or p e r s o n s e x p o s e d f o r r e l a t i v e l y s h o r t p e r i o d s . T h e r e Is no re lia b le evidence that concentrations of the kind likely to o c cu r under p re s e n t day conditions and with p re se n t day u se s will give r i s e to s u c h c a s e s . A s f o r t he a s s e r t i o n t h at m e s o t h e l i o m a is i n v a r i a b l y l i n k e d with e x p o s u r e to a s b e s t o s ( e x p l a n a t o r y s t a t e m e n t to t h e m o t i o n IV. 11) and e s p e c i a l l y to c ro cid o lite (e x p la n a t o ry s t a t e m e n t IV. 13), t h e r e is e vide nce from a u t h o r i t a t i v e m e d i c a l s o u r c e s that tills is not t r u e . 11 a l l e p i d e m i o l o g i c a l s t u d i e s , a p r o p o r t i o n v a r y i n g f r o m 15 t o 25% o f t h e c a s e s r e v i e w e d , w e r e u n r e l a t e d t o a s b e s t o s e x p o s u r e , e v e n a f t e r t h e m o s t
persistent enquiries.
Very recent data' from Turkey would appear to confirm that m esotheliom a can occur without any exposure to asbestos. Failing to re co g n ise this
has induced scientists in erroenous interpretation of m esotheliom a cases.
F o r a lm o st anybody living in developed or developing countries, evidence of some minute exposure to asbestos can be traced. m a tte r how sm all or short it was, has than im m e dia tely been blam ed as the sole responsible for the d ise ase. Such c a s e s w ere than considered as proof of the view that even the slightest exposure can c ause the d ise ase.
This exposure, no.
It now s e e rn s c l e a r that m e s o t h e l i o m a m a y a l s o b e a tt r i b u te d to other:, h ith e rto u n s u s p e c t e d o r u n r e c o g n i s e d s u b s t a n c e s to which the v i c t i m s have been exposed in the c o u rse of their life.
On the other hand, the example can be quoted of a Dutch a s b e sto s-c e m e n t factory, which started operating in 1937, and where crocidolite has now been p ro c ess ed for a long as 40 ye ars, with adequate protective equipment. The National Health Inspectorate recently confirmed that not a single case of asbestos cancer nor metholioma has shown up among the w orkers of this plant. S im ila r experience has been reported from a factory in
the UK.
F o r c e r ta in specialised uses, in p a r tic u la r in the m an u fa ctu rin g of a s b e sto s- c e m e n t pipes, crocidolite is an e sse n tia l raw m a t e ria l for which no
re p la c e m e n t is yet in sight. ' Its use is vital as well for the production p ro c ess as for the quality of the end product, which is subm itted to
-
extremely severe operational stresses.
.
In a ddition, due to the p a r t i c u l a r n a t u r e of this m a n u f a c t u r i n g p r o c e s s (wet p ro c e s s ), it le n d s It s e lf v e r y well to pre v en tiv e m e a s u r e s which m a k e
it an excellent example of safe use of asbestos.
1
5 14. Initiatives for information of :
- the personnel employed in the m anufacturing industry, - the in te r m e d i a t e s who sell, p r o c e s s o r install a s b e s t o s containing goods, - t h e p u b l i c wtio b e n e f i t s by t he p r o t e c t i o n o r s e r v i c e s o f f e r e d by t h e s e g o o d s
have been taken by the individual bra n ch e s of the a sb e sto s industry, backed by expert institutions such as, for instance, the A sbestosis R e se a rc h
Council.
Publications recommending safe methods of alm ost every branch of this industry,
of work, and explaining the reaso n s and a re c u rre n tly kept up to date.
why p re ca u tio n s
must be taken,
have been made available for products
Diffusion of reliable information cn the subject of asbestos is one of the chief preoccupations of the ASliESTOS INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION
and of its national branches within the EEC :
- the "ASBESTOS INFORMATION CENTRE" in the UK.,
- the "CHAMBRE SYNDICALE DE L'AMIANTE" in F rance,
- the "WIRTSCHAFTSVERHAND ASBEST" and the "WIRTSCHAFTSVERBAND ASBESTZEMENT" in G erm any,
- the " DANISH ASBESTOS INFORMATION GROUP" In D enm ark,
- the "IRISH ASBESTOS COUNCIL" in Ireland - the "COMITE D'INFORMATION DE L'AMIANTE" in Benelux.
The A I A for its part, has presently in preparation a s e rie s of "Guides" on various a s p e c ts of the asbestos problem which all knowledge available at this time has been taken into ccnsidex alien.
for the preparation of
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5 17.
The l e g absolute
1..... safely
, W can be
between claimed
e x p o , o r . . . h n n m fe . d e l end .be . p p e . t . n e , o f the c l (15 , ~ r . or m o r e ) m . k e , It e x t r e m e l y doublfu,
for any new developed fibre deslgne o rep ac
.
m-edirtions as to the effect on hum an health of substitutes m uch m o r e unreliable
whether than the
r . ' - e k, f " ' ,, * of" e x p o s u r e
*--
.
,
.
. |i
i , etn , in not (ine to the c h e m i c a l com position of tfiis m a t e r i a l , but to the p h y s i c a l
characterist/c^of t h e ^ . ^
" h *c h "**" ' * t h e m r e B d l l y l n h a U W e a n d S
6UbSeqUent
t0 ^
therefore, any fibrous substance containing or giving r is e to dust p a rtic le s of sim ilar shape and size. Is likely to produce the
r p ; C4 S S { V S T S * : s T o T t l J s T s u b .U tu te s w o u l d t h a n h a v e t o b e i d e n t i c a l t o t h o s e s a f e w o r k i n g w i t h a s b e s t o s . . . As long as no conclusive evidence is available on the safety of r e s p i r a b l e fibrous dust o th e r than a s b e s to s , it would s e e m illogica l to substitute
a know; but controllable hazard for the unknown
Substitute m aterials have all eady been develP*d ^
Sirs
.<bestos containing products, particularly in the field of th e rm a l Insulation,
ls as yet unknown. Substitution of asbestos in the m o st rem aining products, where
technlcallyaadwouldentaUserious econoraicas wel1as technical disadvantase
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