Asbestos a silent killer on a global scale - WECFs work on asbestos and the Rotterdam Convention
Asbestos is banned in most industrialized countries: yet it is the biggest occupational killer worldwide: the International Labor Organization estimates asbestos causes 100,000 deaths globally every year through occupational exposure alone. Still asbestos is being produced by many countries, including Canada and Kazakhstan.
| WECF Campaign
| Countries: | International |
| Donors: | Netherlands Ministry of Environment |
| Partners: | Eco-Accord Russia, MAMA-86 Harkiev, Green Women Kazahkstan |
| Duration: | 01/2008 - 05/2018 |
Asbestos is banned in most industrialized countries: yet it is the biggest occupational killer worldwide: the International Labor Organization estimates asbestos causes 100,000 deaths globally every year through occupational exposure alone. This is truly a global epidemic with a preventable cause.
There is scientific consensus based on conclusive proof that all types of asbestos are hazardous for human health. The International Agency for Cancer Research classifies asbestos as a proven human carcinogen. Asbestos exposure is associated with bronchial carcinoma (lung cancer) and mesothelioma (pleural or peritoneal malignant tumors). In some cases, these diseases were observed even among people with a short-term asbestos exposures. The disease can lie dormant for years after exposure, but once activated, usually result in death of the patient in a short period of time.
WECF in cooperation with The Agency of Ecological News, The Centre for Ecological Problem Solving Eco-Agreement and the Ukrainian national social ecological organization MAMA-86 have issued a fact sheet on asbestos.
A full overview of all WECF's work on asbestos can be found here
WECF is a member of the ROCA Alliance, the Rotterdam Convention Alliance, information on the alliance and all its activiteis can be found here
Related News
Lessons and best practices integrating gender into the implementation of the BRS Conventions
03.05.2017
WECF at the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions Conference of the Parties
WECF-ers are participating in the Meetings of the Conferences of the Parties (COP) to the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions taking place from 24 April - 5 May, 2017 in Geneva, Switzerland
24.04.2017
Workshops on asbestos in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, FYR Macedonia and Russia
Asbestos is a very serious but unfortunately neglected threat, especially in Eastern Europe and Central Asia. Therefore WHO European Region decided to finance workshops on this issue in four Eastern European and Central Asian countries
23.10.2015
WECF features in RBRS Conventions COPs Highlights
ENB -Volume 15 Number 228 | Thursday, 14 May 2015, Geneva, Switzerland
14.05.2015 | ENB -Volume 15 Number 228 | Thursday, 14 May 2015
Rotterdam Convention COP 7 (May 13th 2015). ROCA /WECF Side Event on “Chrysotile Asbestos and the question: Who pays the Bill?”
More than 70 people attended a successful, informative and emotional Side Event at COP 7 in Geneva Testimonials and Dialogue
14.05.2015
Rotterdam Convention and Asbestos
Overcoming the blocking attitude of opposing countries with the objective of a functioning international chemical policy and a better protection of the environment and health in countries which use or produce asbestos
28.04.2015
Rotterdam Konvention und Asbest
Überwindung der Blockadehaltung einzelner Staaten mit dem Ziel einer funktionierenden internationalen Chemikalienpolitik und eines besseren Schutzes von Umwelt und Gesundheit in Staaten, die Asbest produzieren und/oder benutzen
28.04.2015
"Plastic machinegeweren en kunstmatige geurstoffen" - Werken op VN Chemicalienconferenties
WECF's Chemicalien Expert Alexandra Caterbow uit wat er op VN niveau allemaal gebeurt op het gebied van het bestrijden van schadelijke stoffen en waarom er toch nog altijd mensen zijn die met onze gezondheid een loopje nemen.
18.12.2014 | WECF & Utopia
WECF at the Chemical Convention COPs in Geneva
Through out May WECF participated in the COPs of Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions and the Extraordinary COP, which took place in Geneva
06.06.2013 | Alexandra Caterbow
ROCA kontra Asbest – WECF kritisiert den Umgang der UN mit den Gefahren von Asbest
Die ROCA (Rotterdam Convention Alliance) kritisiert klar und deutlich die Unterwerfung von internationalen Abkommen zur Sicherung der öffentlichen Gesundheit der Profitgier von Unternehmen
22.05.2013 | WECF
Rotterdam Convention in crisis, say civil society groups
Handful of countries highjack international agreement, intended to protect human health and environment
10.05.2013 | WECF & ROCA
UN cancer agency asked to sever its ties to asbestos propagandists
In an open letter, the IARC was asked to stop the Uralasbest research project on chrysotile asbestos due to the partner’s unethical and improper conduct
19.04.2013 | Righton Canada and WECF
WECF co-organised International Expert Conference on Asbestos in Kiev, and demands phase-out of asbestos production and use in Ukraine
For the first time in Ukraine a public open debate was held to discuss the issue of chrysotile asbestos in Ukraine
06.04.2012 | Alexandra Caterbow
Applying Quality Criteria to Exposure in Asbestos Epidemiology Increases the Estimated Risk
Health Council of the Netherlands was asked for advice by the Ministries of the Environment and of Social Affairs and Employment to provide scientific evidence on risks of environmental and occupational exposure to asbestos
14.07.2011 | Annals of Occupational Hygiene, June 2011. Alex Burdorf and Dick Heederik via IPEN
Was your country given a cancer culprit award?
The countries that obstructed the listing of asbestos were given a Cancer Culprit Award during the 5th Conference of the Parties on the Rotterdam Convention
29.06.2011 | Johanna Hausmann
The Gazette’s View: Human cost of asbestos is not worth the jobs
For the sake of hundreds of jobs, $90 million a year in sales and our prime minister’s refusal to be wrong about anything, Canada is now the world’s only developed nation to not formally acknowledge chrysotile asbestos as a carcinogen
29.06.2011 | Montreal Gazette
WECF at the COP 5 in Geneva
WECF attended from 20-24 of June the 5th Meeting of the Parties on the Rotterdam Convention, the COP5. WECF attended the meeting on behalf of the Rotterdam Convention Alliance (ROCA), which represented civil society at the conferenc and was shocked by Canada’s behaviour
25.06.2011 | Chantal van den Bossche
WECF disappointed by Canadian governments move to oppose listing chrysotile asbestos at Rotterdam Convention this week
“Now we have to wait for another two years to be able to protect the lives of thousands of people around the world”
24.06.2011 | WECF Press Release
Canada maakt gebruik van "schandelijke tactiek" door zich te verzetten tegen opnemen van asbest op de lijst van gevaarlijke stoffen
Door verzet tegen opname in Annex 3 van de Rotterdam Conventie wint Noord-Amerikaanse land de ‘kankerveroorzakers’ prijs
22.06.2011 | WECF nieuws
Canada uses "shameful tactics" to oppose listing of asbestos, wins cancer culprit award
When asked earlier this week whether Canada would support listing asbestos in annex III of the Rotterdam Convention, Natural Resources Minister Joe Oliver said “the question is moot”.
22.06.2011 | Joint Press Release Civil Society COP 5
Women make a difference - even on a so-called men’s issue
Side Event “Dangers in the Dust”
22.06.2011 | Chantal van den Bossche
International high level conference organised by WECF and BIOM on chrysotile asbestos & health, held in Kyrgyzstan leads to resolution
Kyrgyzstan is in the top ten of chrysotile asbestos users, it is a main building material, and it produces asbestos cement products for domestic use and export
31.05.2011 | WECF news
Asbestos a silent killer on a global scale - WECFs work on asbestos and the Rotterdam Convention
Asbestos is banned in most industrialized countries: yet it is the biggest occupational killer worldwide: the International Labor Organization estimates asbestos causes 100,000 deaths globally every year through occupational exposure alone. Still asbestos is being produced by many countries, including Canada and Kazakhstan.
01.01.2008 | WECF Campaign
