Exposure to asbestos threatens environment, human health

A report by the United Nations Environment has said that exposure to asbestos has been a long-standing issue, threatening the health of both the environment and human population for centuries.

It said hundreds of millions of people are exposed to the toxin worldwide each year, despite its known health risks.

According to the report, one study from the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health estimates that roughly 250,000 people die as a result of asbestos exposure annually.

“In addition to it naturally occurring in the environment, extensive human use of asbestos has led to the discovery of this hazardous particle in both our air and water sources,” the report said.

It further said although the World Health Organization states that there is not enough substantial evidence to prove that ingesting asbestos through drinking water will lead to an illness down the line, it’s important to be aware of the constant threat of exposure.

The report said symptoms associated with asbestos exposure can take up to half a century to arise and the majority of related cases of these diseases develop as a result of occupational exposure, with nearly 125 million people facing exposure every year.

“People can also be exposed through the environment, consumer products or even within their own homes,” it said.

Asbestos is a naturally found mineral and doesn’t pose a threat until broken or disturbed. Once released into the air, the toxin becomes extremely harmful for humans if ingested or inhaled.

Despite its effects on human and animal health, much remains to be done before the dangerous mineral is banned worldwide.

According to the report, the Secretariat of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions, Kei Ohno Woodall said “many but not all types of asbestos have been banned or severely restricted in several countries for environmental or health reasons, and listed under the Rotterdam Convention, which requires prior informed consent when hazardous chemicals are traded internationally.”