Asbestos imports skyrocketed last year to an estimated 300 metric tons, according to a new report from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).
“There is no safe or controlled level of asbestos exposure, and management methods to reduce exposure are ineffective and endanger public health.”
Linda Reinstein
The U.S. Geological Survey, which conducts detailed surveys of the land but does not mine materials, reported asbestos in its Mineral Commodity Summaries 2021. It found that U.S. imports of chrysotile asbestos — the type of asbestos that is still imported and used in the U.S. today — increased by nearly 74 percent from a total of 172 metric tons in 2019.
It is the biggest surge since 2018 which saw imports double to 681 metric tonnes from just 332 in the previous year, according to the annual report uploaded on Feb.
The Source
Brazil was by far the dominant supplier of raw chrysotile in 2020, providing an estimated 86% of all U.S. imports (raw chrysotile as well as asbestos products), with Russia accounting for most or perhaps all much of the balance (14%), according to USGS.
The report stated that, all this asbestos is used by the chlor-alkali industry for producing diaphragms with chrysotile.
The report also stated that there are at least 11 chlor-alkali plants where asbestos diaphragms are still in use, and they make up approximately one-third of US production of the dangerous substance.
‘Horrifying’
The forecast of a jump in imports was criticized by asbestos activists. In a joint statement with the Brazilian Association of People Exposed to Asbestos, Linda Reinstein, head of the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO), described it as “horrifying”.
Reinstein noted that every year, more than 40,000 Americans lose their lives to asbestos-related diseases. “Asbestos is predominantly still in place, and there is no safe or controlled level of exposure to asbestos fibers,” Dr Kane said.
Estimates Only
USGS findings are not exactly redeeming themselves since the agency said it has only strong numbers for imports up until July 2020 with 138 tons imported.
The USGS report added that along with chrysotile, small amounts of asbestos are still imported into the U.S. in the form of manufactured products containing the carcinogen, such as brake blocks for the oil industry and rubber sheets for gaskets. The exact amount of these other forms of asbestos is unknown, the report added.
