New measures to limit asbestos exposure in the workplace as much as possible. Twenty-seven created a new position to review rules on workplace exposure to asbestos, and this drastic reduction in the maximum allowable It has been proposed by the European Commission when advocating a more modern system for measuring fiber level.
If the reform continues with the levels recommended by Brussels and approved by EU employment ministers, this means: reduce the tolerated asset from 0.1 to 0.01 per cubic centimeter Asbestos for a worker to also greatly reduce the risk of developing cancer due to overexposure to this material.
Ministers as well use a more modern and precise method to count asbestos fibers they use electron microscopy to facilitate the transition from the current measurement model based on phase contrast microscopy (PCM), although they require countries to have a seven-year period to meet the criteria of the new system.
Although the European Union has banned the use of asbestos since 2005 (in the case of Spain, since 2002), this toxic substance is still present in approximately 220 million old buildings. and European infrastructures based on data from community services relayed by Europa Press.
In addition, according to the same data, 78% of cancers diagnosed as workplace origin are associated with asbestos exposure.
Once the negotiating mandate of the twenty-seven has been determined, they must start negotiations with the European Parliament in order to agree on reform.
One million children study under asbestos
Juan Antonio Ortega, member of the Comprehensive Asbestos Law Group and coordinator of the Environmental Health Committee of the Spanish Association of Pediatrics, recently warned: One million boys and girls attending schools and kindergartens where they are exposed to asbestos.
” asbestos is a deadly carcinogen still available in many schools. claims that boys and girls spend about 40 hours a week in schools and kindergartens and safe places for our boys and girls to learn, play and live away from environmental risks,” she affirms.
In this sense, the expert reminded the following: the school stage is more susceptible to the influence of carcinogensTherefore, he emphasized the importance of the subject. “total elimination” of asbestos in training centers, to avoid environmental exposure. And so much so that the average age of many School buildings in Spain are over 50 years oldand explains the existence of asbestos and other materials used in the past.
Asbestos causes pleural and lung cancer, as well as pulmonary fibrosis
Asbestos, as you remember, causes cancer of the pleura and lung, as well as pulmonary fibrosis and these diseases appear decades after exposure. “It is urgent to develop School Environmental Health programs (children’s occupational health) that primarily contribute to eliminating exposure to carcinogens and asbestos in education centres.”
Likewise, pulmonologist Josep Tarrés asked the Government to act now: prevent the “asbestos epidemic” from reaching sons and daughters, grandchildren and great-grandchildrenIt is to provide social protection to thousands of victims that it has caused and will cause. “Failure to act will leave a toxic legacy to future generations, and thousands of cancer cases that will manifest in 20 to 50 years will mean a very serious irresponsibility of politicians who will cause pain, death and suffering to future generations.” detailed.
Similarly, when using other European countries, Tarrés European structural funds for years to eliminate asbestosSpain has hardly any specific projects, such as the elimination of asbestos in schools in Murcia. spent years losing the opportunity to take any serious counteraction public health problem, with European funding.
There is no minimum exposure level that does not carry cancer risk.
Expert reports studies predict more than 67% of this equipment has reached end of lifeand 87% will have done so by 2030and when this happens, Asbestos in the fiber cement begins to be released from the cement and its particles pass into the air.. “A material that is a level one carcinogen, with no cancer risk, no minimum exposure level” lung anyone mesotheliomaIn addition other cancers such as larynx Y ovarian“, the doctor stressed.
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Contact address of the environment department: [email protected]