Asbestos

Asbestos

News: Recently, the United States’ Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a comprehensive ban on all forms of the deadly carcinogen asbestos. 

About:
 It is a naturally occurring mineral, has been widely used in various industries due to its heat and chemical resistance, tensile strength, and insulating properties.
 However, it is a known carcinogen, and exposure to it can lead to serious health issues, including lung cancer, mesothelioma, and asbestosis, and it is linked to more than 40,000 deaths in the US each year.

Asbestos and India:
 India banned asbestos mining in 1993. However, there is no law in the country that prevents its use in construction, import, or trade. As a result, asbestos is widely used in everything from cement to brake parts.
 In fact, India accounted for nearly half of global asbestos imports in 2021. 
 In India, in the coming decades, more than 6 million people could have an asbestos-related disease, including more than 600,000 cancer cases.