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by Shanika Sriyananda Liyanage

Compared with others traumatised by painful and lingering aliments he didn't suffer for long. But suffer he did. His frequent visits from Chilaw to the Cancer Hospital, Maharagama for treatment gave him only temporary relief. And after a 12-month battle for life, he passed away. The year was 1987. The man was W. Raymond Fernando. And he was only 52 years old.

"Death due to LUNG CANCER", stated the death certificate. But what caused the cancer? Owner of a few fishing boats Fernando, a father of five, smoked and drank occasionally. "But he was a healthy man", said Lionel Thamel, his cousin. persistent questioning brought him an answer. But it wasn't something, he could have envisaged even in his wildest dream. The culprit was subsequently identified as 'asbestos'.

Anura Dissanayake

"We were wondering why he died of a lung cancer, and were unaware of the dangers of asbestos at that time. But, now, I know what killed my cousin brother. He lived more than 20 years under an asbestos roof. Asbestos killed my brother", lamented Thamel, who together with Anura Dissanayake, a consulting engineer -building services, formed a forum for the Elimination of Asbestos related Cancer', a few months ago.

The Forum, which has a membership of nearly 400 has written to the Sri Lanka Standard Institution (SLSI) requesting that SL standards given to asbestos manufacturing industries, be withdrawn, considering the ' hidden risks'.

"In most countries asbestos has been totally banned. But why not in Sri Lanka", asked Dissanayake who has worked in Australia as a civil engineer for more than 15 years. He alleged that the asbestos producers had targeted the developing countries, where there are no restrictions, to export their products.

With the alarming increase of cancer cases worldwide, the member states of the European Union implemented restrictions to phase out asbestos in 1999. According to it, from January 1, 2005 the introduction of new applications of asbestos cement materials, friction products, seals and gaskets will be prohibited. The World Trade Organisation (WTO) had also asked its member states to prohibit the importation and use of goods which contain carcinogenic substances such as white asbestos, in 2001.

According to Dissanayake, employers and other responsible authorities have been ordered by law to pay compensation to victims of asbestos related aliments for breaching the law under the duty of care.

"But here, the Board of Investment in Sri Lanka has offered BOI status to import asbestos on a duty free basis. SLSI has offered SLS quality certificates for these products. Mass scale advertising is permitted to promote asbestos products on road side hoardings, TV , radio and newspapers. Ultimately, who is going to care for the Sri Lankans who are exposed to this danger daily, since there are no laws to protect them", asked Dissanayake.

Meanwhile, with the assistance of the Asbestos Diseases Society of Australia (ADSA), which was formed mainly to provide financial assistance to the asbestos victims in Australia, plans to introduce 'encapsulation', a treatment process to prevent the emission of asbestos dust from existing roofs, on a non-profit making basis.

"We have already held discussions with the Environment and Natural Resources Minister Rukman Ssenanayake, about this environmental hazard and intend to meet other relevant authorities to take action to phase out this harmful substance from the country, over a period of time", Dissanayake disclosed.

He explained that one such tiny asbestos fibre, which is an elementary unit of the physical carcinogen, is capable of inducing a malignant growth in a human body and it will take 30 years for these diseases symptoms to appear after the first exposure to the dust. "He also said that experienced Australian doctors will be visiting Sri Lanka to identify those who worked in asbestos factories in the 1960s. "If there are any victims, the ADSA will pay compensation to them", Dissanayake claimed.

Meanwhile, environmental scientists have urged the SLSI to reconsider the issue of SLS certificates for asbestos manufacturing concerns.

"The SLSI should consider twice when issuing SLS certificates for asbestos manufacturing factories since this industry has been totally banned in many parts of the world. Issuing SLS certificates would encourage the businessmen to enter the industry", urged Hemantha Witanage, the environmental scientist and the Executive Director of the Environmental Foundation Ltd (EFL). Although no detailed research has been carried out yet to ascertain the health and environmental hazards of asbestos. Witanage is of the view that the asbestos might be one of the hidden cause for more people to become cancer victims."A Green labelling system, which is issued for environmental friendly products in other countries, should be introduced to our country", he said.

Meanwhile, Dr. M.A.Y. Ariyaratne, Director, Cancer Hospital, Maharagama denied any connection between asbestos roofing sheets and cancer. "It is true that blue asbestos are cancerous, but not the grey which is mainly used in Sri Lanka", he said.

He also said that mesothelioma is not a common type of cancer here and that there was no evidence to show that the asbestos fibres are in the lungs of cancer victims. "Asbestos for heating insulation is banned worldwide, but not the corrugated roofing sheets', he pointed out.

According to Dr. Ariyaratne the main battle of the cancer hospital is with tobacco, not with the asbestos roofing sheets. "Over 40 per cent of cancer in Sri Lanka is due to tobacco smoking. The other main cause of the alarming rise in cancer victims is alcohol", he said. "I think some one is trying to brain wash the people to hide the real causes with an ulterior motive", Dr. Ariyaratne claimed.

those, who worked in asbestos factories in the 1960s and are suffering of lung cancer contact the EFL's hotlines: 074-616474 or 697226 for more information.

Asbestos related diseases

The asbestos fibre, which has a diameter of 2 micrometres, is not visible to the naked eye. Very thin with a tendency to remain in the air, it can easily reach the lungs through breathing. Then the tiny asbestos fibre may float up against the alveolar wall, sometimes piercing the alveolar lining cells. However, studies done in the West have shown that asbestos dust can cause cancer in the lungs, intestines, bowel and many other organs.

Such diseases are:

1. Asbestosis: Following inhalation of asbestos fibres for a long time, it will cut down the diffusion of carbon dioxide from the blood to the air which is exhaled. Asbestosis will lead to respiratory disability and sometimes death from pulmonary hypertension or cardiac failure. Symptoms: Shortness of breath, coughing, chest tightness and bluish skin discolouration.

2. Pleural Plaques: This commonly occurs before asbestosis. This disease is associated with exposure to asbestos dust and may reduce lung function.

3. Lung cancer: Lung cancer is common among the workers who are constantly exposed to asbestos. According to medical reports, these workers who are also smokers are especially prone to develop lung cancer. Symptoms: Cough, pain on breathing in, a feeling of chest restriction, loss of weight and appetite.

4. Mesothelioma: * Pleural: Persons exposed occupationally. This occurs mainly in the outer covering of the lung, after many years of exposure to asbestos.

* Peritoneal: This is also associated with occupation, para-occupation, inhalation and possible ingestion of asbestos.

5. Other carcinomas: * Gastro-intestinal tract: This occurs in the tube that extends from the mouth to the anus. And occurs frequently among workers exposed to asbestos.

* Cancer of the bowel: Several studies indicate a possible risk of this cancer among the workers exposed to asbestos.

6. other organs: From time to time cancer experts have suggested ovary, haemopoietic system and breast, as sites of malignant change due to asbestos, but this needs more scientific research.

(Source: Asbestos Diseases Society of Australia Inc.)

Asbestos Related Diseases (ARD) in Sri Lanka

The first case of ARD - mesothelioma- was reported in 1983. According to case studies done by C.G. Uragoda, A.H.Sherifdeen and Asoka Amerasinghe, the patient, who was engaged in lagging boilers and steam pipes, was exposed to the crocidolite (white asbestos) which was imported from South Africa.

Two cases of bronchial carcinoma among asbestos workers were reported in 1980s. The study on ARD carried out by C.G.Uragoda revealed that one worker, an engineer in an asbestos - cement industry for over 17 years, didn't smoke except for an occasional cigar. The other engaged in fixing asbestos roofing sheets for 16 years.

Profile of asbestos

* Asbestos: 'amiantus'(in Greek) - means unquenchable

* It is a generic term applied to some mineral silicates of serpentine and amphibole.

* Characteristics: Flexibility, tensile strength, insulation (from heat and electricity) and chemical inertness. It is the only natural mineral that can be spun and woven like cotton and wool into useful fibre and fabrics.

* Common types: Chrysotile (White), Crocidolite (Blue) and Amosite (Brown or grey).

* The Finnish peasants (many centuries before Christ) mixed it in pottery and sealed cracks in their log huts. Ancient Greeks and Romans used it to make wicks for their lamp and wove asbestos fibres into fabrics in towels and nets.

* Medieval merchants sold asbestos crosses citing their resistance to fire.

* The first asbestos factory was opened in Great Britain in 1871.

* Dr. Montague Murray was the first to report a case on Asbestosis among workers in the asbestos industries, in 1900s.

* Places of deposits: Ural mountains in the Soviet, in the Alps of northern Italy, Canada, USA, South Africa, Rhodesia, Australia.

* There are over 3,000 types of asbestos products for domestic and industrial uses.

Uses of asbestos in Sri Lanka

Imported from Canada and some parts of Africa in raw fibre form. Here it is used for three purposes:

* Asbestos cement products in the construction industry: Corrugated and flat sheets and all ancillary asbestos cement building materials such as water and sewerage pipes. Asbestos cement industry is the largest user of asbestos fibres in Sri Lanka. Asbestos cement products usually contain 10-12% of asbestos, mostly the chrysotile. Here, three major asbestos-cement manufacturing factories are now in business.

* Asbestos as friction material (brake lining and clutch in the automobile trade): This contains 40-60% asbestos and there are some manufacturing factories.

* Asbestos as an insulating material: Steam pipes, boilers and furnaces are insulated by a wet mix of magnesium carbonate and asbestos fibre.

* Retail trade: hardware stores sell asbestos loosely.

* Other uses: Asbestos products are imported into the country in the form of water pipes, roofing ridges, footwear, fireproof clothing and asbestos cloths. (Source: National Building Research Organization.)

Who is exposed to the deadly fibre?

* Mine workers: When it is being mined from the natural deposits.

* Production workers: When the asbestos products are being manufactured.

* Construction workers: When it is being installed.

* The public: All those who have asbestos roofing sheets.

Countries that have totally phased out all kinds of asbestos products are: Austria, Belgium, England, The Chech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Australia, Netherlands, Poland, New Zealand, Saudi Arabia, Sweden, Switzerland, Greece, Spain. A number of other countries are in the process of banning this deadly substance.

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