Welcome to UAL Industries Limited

ASBESTOS FACT SHEET

Blow Away the Myths on Asbestos
.....It is time to change your views…..

1. What is Asbestos?
Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral. It is ubiquitous in nature, present in the earth crust, water streams and in the environment all over the world. Chemically it is hydroxy silicate of magnesum.
Asbestos is divided into two groups, Serpentine and Amphibole.Crysotile, (which asbestos) fall under serpentine and under amphibole crocidolite (blue), amosite, tremolite, anthophyllate and actinolite are the types of asbestos.

2. What is the composition of Asbestos Cement Sheet?
The major constituents of Asbestos Cement Sheet are cement, fly ash, and small percentage of 8 - 10% Chrysolite(white) asbestos fibre and water.

3. What are the characteristics of Asbestos Cement Sheet?
It is a high-density asbestos-based product in which fibre is firmly 'locked-in' with cement. Hence the possibility of releasing of respirable asbestos fibre is negligible.

4.Is it safe to use and/or live under Asbestos Cement roofs?
Yes.

5.Can it lead to cancer or any other health hazard?
There is no scientific data or evidence in the history of the use of Asbestos Cement sheet for the past for more than 60 years, of having caused any health hazard.

6.What then so much publicity including ban of asbestos product in western countries?
The cause of adverse publicity is on finding related more due to other type of Asbestos based products which are of low density containing more than 80% of other type of asbestos fibre( Amosite and Crocidolite variety which are harmful). These low density product are friable and creates considerable dust which when inhaled over a long period of time lead to disease known as 'asbestosis' or asbestos related lung cancer and mesotheliama. Low-density products are mainly asbestos-sprayed insuline products used extensively in the west, in houses, ships during 1940, 1950 and 1960s. These products are now banned all over the world whereas in India these products are neither manufactured nor used. Hence the problem experienced in the west is of no relevance tp India.

7. Are AC products banned in the United States of America?
No, they are not banned in the USA. Infact Environment protection Agency (EPA) proposed the ban but Supreme Court ruled that there is no evidence to suggest that these products are equally harmful. Infact, alternate products suggested are equally harmful.

8.Why some of the countries in the west have banned or in the process of banning Asbestos cement products also?
As explained earlier, the ban has been triggered due to low-density product, which has mostly used in large quantities in the west. More over only small quantities of high density Asbestos Cement Sheets are used in these countries. Therefore some countries preferred to ban the product containing asbestos altogether.

9.Are Asbestos Cement products banned in Canada?
No, Canada is one of the largest producers of Chrysolite Asbestos fibre and promotes controlled usage.

10.Why and how Asbestos is considered health hazard?
Inhalation of heavy concentrations of asbestos over a prolonged period i.e. 10 years and more may cause asbestosis, asbestos related lung cancer, and mesotheliama. Asbestosis is like silicosis or any other pueumoconiosis caused due to inhalation of silica, coal, or cotton dust.

11.What are the views of World Health Organisation (WHO) on asbestos cement products?
WHO considers asbestos cement products highly eco-friendly. The task group of WHO on asbestos and other natural mineral fibres concluded that " the studies conducted to date provide very little convincing evidence of an association between asbestos in public water supplies and cancer induction". (Ref.: International programme on Chemical safety, Environmental Health Criteria NO.53: Asbestos and other Natural Mineral Fibre, WHO 1986). In 1991, on the point of revision of WHO guidelines on asbestos, it was again concluded that "The weight of the evidence shows that ingested asbestos is not hazardous to health and on the basis it is considered unnecessary to recommend a health based guideline value for asbestos in drinking water"

12. When AC sheets are cut or drilled during installation, do the workers or user get exposed to risk?
As per recommended work practices, use hand operated tools only. Avoid using abrasive disc, which may generate asbestos dust. With these precautions worker is not exposed to any risk. AC sheet does not release fibre either due to aging or natural weathering.

13. Are there any standard procedure or guidelines for safe use of asbestos in our country?
Yes. There are 16 recommendation published by Bureau of Indian Standards for safe use of asbestos containing products. Infact, today it is most controlled and regulated product, and industry right from mining, transportation, to the use in India. In all the process there are adequate and proper methods and procedure to ensure that dust levels are kept below the prescribed limit of 1f/cc of air. Hence throughout the chain in this industry no one is exposed to the needed cummulative doses to think of any possible hazard.

14. What is the relevance of AC sheets in India?
This is one of the most cost effective roofing materials available in India.

Main advantages of AC sheets are:

  Life more than 60 years.

  Negligible maintenance.

  Easy to install.

  Good heat and nose insulation.

  Consume very little power.

  Uses other major binders like cement and fly ash, which are available in abundance in India.

  AC sheets has properties similar to that of cement building products.

  AC sheets are absolutely safe to use and properties and low cost unmatched by any other available roofing    product.

WHY THE WEST ENCOUNTERED PROBLEMS ?

During periods of ignorance of its health effects, asbestos was used in Western countries for insulating large structures and public buildings. Asbestos fibre and an adhesive were sprayed in order to provide insulation and fire ratings in building, which resulted in excessive concentrations of air borne dust during application. More over, Amphiboles (Blue & Brown) fibres which are mainly responsible for Mesothelioma Cancer were invariably used for these applications.
These practices are since discounted. But they still experiences the consequences of such uses which is extensively reported.

These experiences are not relevant in Indian Context due to following reasons:

Asbestos is not used for spraying for insulation.
In India 95% of Asbestos is used in Manufacturing Asbestos Cement products where fibre is locked - in cement matrix.
Blue fibre is banned in India. Only White Fibre is used under controled condition.

FACTS ON INDIAN ASBESTOS CEMENT INDUSTRY

Q: How significant is the Indian Asbestos Cement Industry in context to the Indian Economy ?

A: The Indian Asbestos Cement Industry is a 200 crore input to the state exchequer. The industry provides livelihood to more than one lakh people directly and indirectly. The annual turnover is around 1800 crore and there has been a 15% production growth covering indispensable sectors like construction, utility and sanitation all over the country.

Other than being cost-effective - In the sense that it surpasses GI steel products in cost reduction by 25 to 30%. It is strong and long lasting, with an avarage longevity of 50 years. In a tropical country like India, it helps in protecting people from extremely high temperatures and is fire-resistant, incombustible and rust free. Today it can also be confidently said that the Asbestos cement used in India is free from all health hazards like anywhere else in the world.

Use of Asbestos cement sheets is the logical step in the transformation of socially upward mobile segments from thatched roofs or red tiles to economical rural housing alongwith industrial sheds and warehousing. It is vitally important in a country like ours.

Q: Why do Asbestos Cement Indutry sometimes come across negative propaganda ?

A: 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 and it is readily subjected to acid dissolution and clearance from lungs.

Rather, it can be said that a combination of vested interest and ignorance is the cause of the propaganda leading to the absurd demand for the total ban of asbestos sheets as a health hazard by the rival steel industry. Part of the truth lies in the admission made by a senior spokesperson of an Indian steel major that a ban will cause steel demand to rise by 2.5 million tonnes a year.

Q: Why was the health issues being raised in certain western countries ? Are they relevant in the Indian context ?

A: In western countries, when people were ignorant about associated health hazards of asbestos production and usage, Amphibole(Blue and Brown) fibres were used for insulating large structures and public buildings resulting in excessive concentrations of air borne dust during application. This led to asbestos related diseases like Asbestosis, Mesothelioma and Lung Cancer. When India missed out on the global Industrial revolution, post World War II, it also missed out on asbestos application like insulation. Moreover, climatic and economic conditions prevailing in our country never required that we spray our buildings with asbestos for insulation. Therefore, India never faced asbestos related diseases that were prevalent in the West. However, the western experience of our existing use of chrysotile in high density products such as asbestos cement proves beyond doubt the absence of any increased risk.

The health issues being raised in certain western countries are not relevant in the Indian context since 95% of the asbestos used in the production of asbestos cement products is serpentine(White) chrysotile, which is harmless under controlled usage conditions. Blue fibre has been totally banned for commercial use by the Indian Government and also, asbestos is not sprayed in our country for the purpose of insulation.

Q: What was the outcome of the recent International Conference on Chrysotile Asbestos which was held in Delhi ?

A: The conference showed a universal agreement about Chrysotile(White) Asbestos cement products being the most economical and durable in its areas of application, and having a significant economic relevance to developing countries like India. Indian Asbestos Industry also emphasised the fact that they are environment friendly, produced under controlled conditions for human safety, and are free from all health hazards. The low cost pollution control equipment, progress and limitation of substitute fibre were also discussed.