Department of Forest and Resource Management, Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology, Rotorua, New Zealand.
Global Institute for Interdisciplinary Studies/ Lumbini Environmental Services, Kathmandu, Nepal.
J Public Health Policy. 2020 Sep;41(3):279-285. doi: 10.1057/s41271-020-00223-4.
Asbestos is a primary cause of cancer worldwide. Global estimates indicate workplace exposure of 125 million people and about 255,000 deaths each year. Of the approximately 300 million metric tonnes of asbestos ever produced worldwide, most will become waste and disposed of in landfills. The recycling and transforming asbestos fibre into a non-harmful product offer a sustainable solution, but a global commitment remains elusive. Urgent action is needed. Sixty-seven countries have banned the use of asbestos-containing material, however, repeated calls to stop the use of asbestos globally have gone unheeded. We call for more stringent uniform global legislation and policies, backed up by funds to induce action along with research and education required to eliminate use of asbestos. Only by doing this, will we prevent deaths due to asbestos and help protect the environment.
石棉是全球癌症的主要病因之一。全球估计表明，每年有 1.25 亿人在工作场所接触石棉，约有 25.5 万人因此死亡。在全球生产的约 3 亿吨石棉中，大多数将成为废物，并被丢弃在垃圾填埋场。回收和将石棉纤维转化为无害产品提供了一种可持续的解决方案，但全球范围内仍难以达成一致的承诺。需要采取紧急行动。67 个国家已经禁止使用含石棉材料，然而，全球范围内停止使用石棉的呼吁一直没有得到重视。我们呼吁采取更严格的统一全球立法和政策，并提供资金来推动行动，同时开展所需的研究和教育，以消除石棉的使用。只有这样，我们才能防止因石棉而导致的死亡，并帮助保护环境。
