Roofing industry asserts that chrysotile asbestos is safe for use

The industrial lobby opposing the proposed Sri Lankan ban on chrysotile asbestos has been able to come up with scientific proof that this form of asbestos is not unsafe for human habitation, and thus should not be banned.

In a media release, the Chamber of Construction Industry offers an explanation from Prof. Ravindra Fernando, Chairman, National Dangerous Drugs Control Board, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo. He says: "The latest scientific evidence published internationally, strongly supports that Chrysotile is significantly less hazardous than the amphibole forms of asbestos ( e. g. crocidolite and amosite) which are not imported to Sri Lanka and when properly controlled and used, chrysotile asbestos in its modern day high-density applications does not present risks of any significance to public and/or workers' health. Therefore, Sri Lanka should not ban the use of chrysotile asbestos."

The chamber along with the Chrysotile Information Centre of Sri Lanka (CIC) recently presented the findings of two in-depth studies conducted by the National Building Research Organisation (NBRO) and the University of Moratuwa on Chrysotile roofing products titled - ' Air- Pollution from Chrysotile Fibre in Roofing Products in Sri Lanka' and ' A Comparison of Substitutes for Chrysotile Fibre Cement Roofing Sheets'. They were presented at a conference in Colombo last week.

The first study by the NBRO, reviewed conditions in both the working (ambient) and general environment, the chamber media release said. The NBRO carried out the study focusing on chrysotile fibre exposure in three main areas - manufacturing sites, construction sites and demolition sites and houses - where Chrysotile cement roofing sheets are used.

According to H.D.S. Premasiri, Senior Scientist at Environmental Studies and Service Division, NBRO, "All the exposure levels of chrysotile fibres in all three studies are much below internationally- recognised safety thresholds limit [ OSHA ( Occupational Safety and Health Administration) Standard of Permissible Exposure Limit ( PEL)] which is 0.1 fibre per cubic centimetre in all three studies".

The second study, conducted by the University of Moratuwa involved a comprehensive, comparative analysis of Chrysotile fibre cement roofing sheets and the proposed alternative fibre roofing sheets.