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Exposure
to asbestos causes asbestosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma of
pleura and peritoneum. In India, the total use of asbestos is
1.25 lakh tonnes, out of which more than 1.0 lakh tonnes is
being imported. Significant occupational exposure to asbestos
occurs mainly in asbestos cement factories, asbestos textile
industry and asbestos mining and milling. NIOH has carried out
studies in all these industries and generated baseline data.
Following is the summary of these studies.
There
are 18 asbestos cement factories located in different parts of
the country. NIOH carried out environmental epidemiological
studies in four asbestos cement factories located in Ahmedabad,
Hyderabad, Coimbatore and Mumbai. The prevalence of asbestosis
in these factories varied from 3% to 5%. The levels of
asbestos fibres were found to be higher than the permissible
levels of 2fibres/ml in two of the factories.
Making
of asbestos yarn and ropes is done mostly in the unorganised
sector of industries with very poor safety measures. The
average levels of air borne asbestos fibres varied from 216 to
418 fibres/ ml. The permissible level is 2 fibres/ml. The
prevalence of asbestosis was 9%. This relatively low
prevalence of asbestosis despite high environmental levels was
attributed to high labour turn over. Cases of asbestosis were
observed in workers having less than 10 years exposure in
contrast to the reported average duration of over 20
years.
In
India, the mining and milling of asbestos is done in Cuddapah
(Andhra Pradesh) and Devgarh (Rajasthan). Environmental and
epidemiological studies in mining and milling units were
carried out in both the places. In asbestos mines at both
locations, the air borne fibre levels were within permissible
limits. The average fibre levels in milling units varied from
45 fibres/ml to 244 fibres/ml of air. The overall prevalence
of asbestosis in mining and millingnits was 3% and 21%
respectively
More
Projects
Asbestosis
Byssinosis
Pneumoconiosis and Other Respiratory Morbidities Among Coal
Miners In India
Noise Pollution and Health Effects
Occupational Exposure to Heavy Metals
Occupational Exposure to Organochlorine Pesticides
Agricultural Ergonomics
Women in Industry: Health and safety
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