Castleman B I, Vera Vera M J
Int J Health Serv. 1980;10(3):389-403. doi: 10.2190/MCKW-CNWF-2A4W-B5FQ.
The international asbestos industry is under considerable pressure in some countries to control dust exposures in the workplace and restrict pollution. In addition, major firms in the United States face mounting compensation costs for past failures to protect asbestos workers. At the same time, however, the asbestos industry is expanding in developing nations, largely on the strength of sales of asbestos-cement construction materials. This report describes problems encountered with the use of asbestos-cement in schools and low-income housing in Puerto Rico, resulting in the condemnation of these buildings and the relocation of over 1,000 families at public expense. The manufacturer of the asbestos-cement panels, a Colombian affiliate of the European-based multinational Eternit, escaped all liability. The issue is presented as a needless, expanding threat to public health worldwide. Safe, economic alternatives exist, such as the use in some cases of crop waste fibers in place of asbestos as a cement binder. There have also been major advances in the commercialization of asbestos-free brake and clutch friction products.
在一些国家，国际石棉行业面临着相当大的压力，需要控制工作场所的粉尘暴露并限制污染。此外，美国的主要公司因过去未能保护石棉工人而面临不断增加的赔偿成本。然而，与此同时，石棉行业在发展中国家不断扩张，主要得益于石棉水泥建筑材料的销售。本报告描述了在波多黎各的学校和低收入住房中使用石棉水泥所遇到的问题，这些问题导致这些建筑被判定为危房，并由公共开支重新安置了1000多个家庭。石棉水泥板的制造商是总部位于欧洲的跨国公司依索维尔在哥伦比亚的子公司，该公司逃脱了所有责任。这个问题被视为对全球公众健康不必要的、不断扩大的威胁。存在安全、经济的替代方案，比如在某些情况下使用农作物纤维废料替代石棉作为水泥粘合剂。无石棉制动和离合器摩擦产品的商业化也取得了重大进展。
