Tashkent hosts seminar on safe uses of chrysotile cement
08/11/2013 12:09
Tashkent hosts seminar on safe uses of chrysotile cement
08/11/2013 12:09
Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- Tashkent hosted an international seminar titled “Chrysotile cement: modern scientific data, spheres of use, normative documentation” on 6-7 November 2013.
Representatives of medical institutes, scientific centers, construction industry, trade unions, specialists on labour protection from Uzbekistan, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Russia and Kyrgyzstan participated at the event.
The seminar presented recent scientific data on safety of the use of the chrysotile and products from chrysotile, normative-technical documentation on use of chrysotile, etc.
The main task of the seminar was to reveal if the asbestos is dangerous for health of people and discuss issues related to its use.
Tashkent selected as the venue of the seminar as Uzbekistan has large combines on production of construction materials from chrysotile cement like Bekabadcement, Ahangaranshifer, Kyzylkumcement, Quvasaycement.
It was noted that it is important to find out if the chrysotile is harmful for health of people.
There are two main types (or groups) of asbestos - a mineral of serpentine (chrysotile or white asbestos) and amphibole asbestos.
Amphibole asbestos is similar to chrysotile in physical and mechanical properties, but has significant differences in the chemical composition and mineralogical structure. Amphiboles are resistant to acidic environments that prevent their removal from human lung tissue and can cause serious illness. The extraction and use of amphibole asbestos is banned in the world.
Currently, chrysotile is used in industry and it is included in structure of over three thousands of products.
At the seminar, it was noted that researches showed that the asbestos impact to the health of people as any organic or non-organic fibre – textile, ceramic, fibre, etc.
According laboratory research in Switzerland, Germany and the USA, it was proved that chrysotile is the safest fibre among similar minerals or artificial substitutes (cellulose, aramid and ceramic fibers) as it is excreted from the organism much faster.
The participants underlined that chrysotile-containing materials, including corrugated and plain sheets, pipes and other products do not release fibers in quantities that could endanger human health and, therefore, can be widely used in construction. In products chrysotile is in bound state (with cement, plaster, rubber, resin), and therefore is safe.
Despite large number of scientific publications, which prove safety of chrysotile if sanitary-technologic norms implemented at production level, there are still negative opinions about the product in western countries.
It was noted that it can be assumed that anti-asbestos campaign in the western countries is directed at ousting cheaper chrysotile-containing materials from the market. It is worth to mention that the countries, which banned asbestos, earlier used amphibole asbestos. The CIS countries are using only chrysotile.
The seminar noted that the World Health Organization confirmed that there insignificant risk of impact of chrysotile to health of population, who are not connected professionally with this mineral.
However, it was noted that eliminatory sanitary-hygienic requirements at production process like ventilation, use of protection means, cleaning and others will protect health of employees and ensure safe use of chrysotile and chrysotile-containing materials.
Chrysotile-containing materials have unique peculiarities such as strength, durability, fire resistance. At the same time, the alternative materials are expensive by 2-5 times compared to the chrysotile-containing materials and the most expensive – 30 times. This is reason for wide use of chrysotile-containing materials in many countries. Chrysotile-containing materials are also resistant to wet and dry weather.
At the seminar, the participants exchanged opinion and information on medical-biologic researches, production of chrysotile-containing materials and asbestos.
In the result of two day meeting, the participants – medical specialists, ecologists, specialists in construction sector, and others – noted that controlled use of chrysotile is safe for human and environment.
Within the seminar, the participants visited Ahangarancement and familiarized with production process.
Ahangarancement is the leading producer of chrysotile-containing materials in Uzbekistan. Its share in the chrysotile-containing materials market makes up 52% in Uzbekistan.
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