Asbestos Mines
Where in the world is asbestos mined?
Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that was extensively mined and used globally in various industrial applications, such as construction, textiles, and automotive brakes. However, it is now known to be a toxic substance that can cause serious health problems, including mesothelioma, asbestosis, and lung cancer. Several international health organizations have urged for the banning of asbestos mining and exports, and chrysotile asbestos to be added to the hazardous materials list. However, countries such as Cuba, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, and Zimbabwe have opposed these measures due to their large financial interests in asbestos mining and exports. Here is an overview of asbestos mining activities in some countries:
Canada
Canada was one of the largest asbestos mining countries and a major exporter of asbestos until recently. Asbestos mining began in Canada in 1850 and peaked in the 1950s with an annual production of more than 900,000 metric tons. While asbestos use has decreased significantly in Canada, the country still exports 96% of its stock, primarily to Asia.
Russia
Russia is the largest asbestos mining and exporting country in the world, with over one million metric tons of asbestos mined annually. The city of Asbest in Russia is known for its high rates of asbestos-related diseases due to the mining activities. Asbest alone produces around 500,000 metric tons of asbestos each year, which is approximately 20% of the world's annual production.
China
China is another major asbestos mining and exporting country, with an annual production of more than 450,000 metric tons of asbestos. The country is also the second-largest consumer of asbestos after Russia. Chinese manufacturers and builders use asbestos in various applications, including roofing materials, walls, brake pads, gaskets, and cloth. It is estimated that by 2035, the annual death toll in China from asbestos-related diseases may reach 15,000.
Brazil
Brazil is the third-largest asbestos mining and exporting country in the world, with a production of over 300,000 metric tons of asbestos in 2013. The country exports mainly to Mexico, Columbia, and Asia. Brazil also uses a significant portion of its mined asbestos within the country. Asbestos mining and exports generate approximately $1.3 billion for the Brazilian economy and provide employment to around 200,000 people.
Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan is the fourth-largest asbestos mining and exporting country globally, with over 240,000 metric tons of asbestos mined in 2013. The country's mines, including Djetygarinskoe, which holds an estimated 37 million tons of asbestos, export the vast majority of their production. Asbestos is used in the production of schools, hospitals, commercial buildings, houses, and flats in Kazakhstan. The use of asbestos in brake linings is banned in England, but Kazakhstan still uses it for that purpose.
India
India was previously a significant asbestos mining and exporting country, handling around 500,000 metric tons annually in the late 1980s. Today, India imports the mineral from other countries, mainly Canada, with an estimated import of four million metric tons annually. Although India voted for the addition of asbestos to the hazardous materials list at the 2011 Rotterdam convention, it continues to be one of the world's largest importers of asbestos minerals. The country is expected to see a rise in asbestos-related deaths in the coming years.
South Africa
South Africa was one of the world's largest asbestos mining and exporting countries, with exports to the UK and other countries. The mining of asbestos in South Africa began in 1883, with an estimated production of 380,000 metric tons in 1977. Many South African mines were closed in the 1990s due to the health risks associated with asbestos.
Asbestos Mining Health Concerns: How Miners Are Exposed to Asbestos
Asbestos miners face a significant risk of exposure to asbestos fibers, which can lead to serious health problems. Miners directly handle and transport raw asbestos ore, and they also come into contact with asbestos-containing materials in mining machinery and equipment.
The Jeffrey Mine in Thetford Mines, Quebec, Canada, was a prominent asbestos mine that shut down in 2012. As mining technology advanced, tasks changed, and the number of miners decreased. However, the risk of asbestos exposure remained as miners still encountered asbestos parts while operating, maintaining, and repairing machinery and equipment.
During the Industrial Revolution, asbestos was widely used as an insulator for factories and was incorporated into building materials and other products. Despite its beneficial properties, asbestos is a carcinogen, and mining asbestos puts workers at a high risk of developing related diseases.
Although asbestos mining ceased in the U.S. in 2002, it still occurs in certain countries such as Russia, Kazakhstan, and China. According to a 2021 article in the Journal of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology, global asbestos mining and consumption have remained at approximately 1.3 million tons per year in recent years.
Asbestos mine workers are at high risk of developing related diseases such as lung cancer, mesothelioma, and asbestosis due to their direct exposure to raw asbestos during mining and transportation of the ore, as well as exposure to asbestos-containing products in mining machinery and equipment. Even with modern mining methods, workers can still be exposed to asbestos while operating, maintaining, and repairing machinery and equipment. Asbestos is a carcinogen that can cause significant respiratory health problems when inhaled, and its effects may not become apparent until years or even decades after exposure.