Department of Sociology, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM 88003, USA.
Int J Health Serv. 2011;41(2):239-54. doi: 10.2190/HS.41.2.d.
The intent of this essay is to highlight the global reorganization of the asbestos industry over the period 1970-2007. Descriptive analysis illustrates that asbestos consumption in the industrialized countries declined precipitously over this period, in juxtaposition to a notable increase in consumption in the developing countries. In 2007, asbestos consumption in the developing countries was more than two million metric tons but negligible elsewhere in the world economy. The author argues that as asbestos increasingly became the focus of government oversight in the industrialized countries, continued capital accumulation efforts necessitated displacement of risk to the developing countries. The global revitalization of asbestos production and consumption over the period 1970-2007 presents numerous challenges in terms of occupational and environmental health hazards in the developing countries. It has the potential, moreover, to prefigure a significant expansion of asbestos-related disease into the 21st century, absent a global ban on asbestos use.
本文旨在强调 1970 年至 2007 年间全球石棉产业的重组。描述性分析表明，在此期间，工业化国家的石棉消费急剧下降，而发展中国家的消费显著增加。2007 年，发展中国家的石棉消费量超过 200 万吨，但在世界其他经济体中微不足道。作者认为，随着石棉越来越成为工业化国家政府监管的焦点，继续积累资本的努力需要将风险转移到发展中国家。1970 年至 2007 年间，全球石棉生产和消费的复苏给发展中国家的职业和环境卫生危害带来了诸多挑战。此外，如果不全面禁止使用石棉，这种情况有可能预示着与石棉有关的疾病在 21 世纪会大幅增加。
