Clapper, Patti, Schweizer and Mason

Activists against the continued use of asbestos rallied in Turin Italy last Tuesday. Activists gathered to speak a collective voice against the use of asbestos in developing countries and to call for a worldwide ban on the manufacture and use of asbestos.  Activitists are extremely concerned over the health implications of exposure to asbestos, especially development of mesothelioma.

 

Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that was once widely used in many industrial and construction products. Asbestos is well known for its heat resistant and insulating properties, and therefore was added to thousands of products until its dangers were well established and accepted. Industrialized countries began banning and regulating the use of asbestos ever since the mid 1980’s, however not so with many developing countries.

 

Asbestos, when inhaled, can cause serious diseases, such as mesothelioma and lung cancer. Mesothelioma is a rare and aggressive form of cancer that begins in the mesothelium, or lining of the lungs, heart or abdomen. There are few effective treatments for mesothelioma, and no known cure. In the United States alone, two to three thousand people lose their lives to mesothelioma per year.

 

Anti-asbestos activitists gathered in Italy to call for a ban on the importation and use of asbestos in developing countries, especially India. In such countries, not only is asbestos used, but very little precaution or safety measures are taken to protect workers or the public. The number of mesothelioma cases is expected to continue to rise in such countries for decades to come.

 

The rally took place in Turin where the largest asbestos class action suit has been filed against a construction company accused of causing over 2000 deaths due to occupational and environmental exposure to asbestos.