Impending Proliferation of Asbestos
Impending Proliferation of Asbestos
复制标题
石棉即将扩散
DOI：
10.2190/mckw-cnwf-2a4w-b5fq
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发表时间：
1980
影响因子：
3.4
通讯作者：
Manuel J. Vera Vera
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
B. Castleman;Manuel J. Vera Vera
国际石棉工业在一些国家面临着控制工作场所粉尘暴露和限制污染的巨大压力。此外，美国的大公司因过去未能保护石棉工人而面临越来越高的赔偿费用。然而，与此同时，石棉工业在发展中国家正在扩大，主要依靠石棉水泥建筑材料的销售。本报告叙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物被废弃，1 000多个家庭不得不由政府出资搬迁。石棉水泥板的制造商是总部设在欧洲的跨国公司Eternit的哥伦比亚分公司，它逃避了所有责任。这个问题被认为是对全世界公共卫生的一个不必要的、不断扩大的威胁。存在安全、经济的替代品，例如在某些情况下使用作物废料纤维代替石棉作为水泥粘合剂。无石棉制动器和离合器摩擦产品的商业化也取得了重大进展。
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.