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| Sunday, 22 September 2002 |
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Features |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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The country's leading asbestos cement roofing sheet manufacturers in a joint statement has dismissed unfounded fears that asbestos roofing sheets cause cancer and allege that the false propaganda is being orchestrated by foreign companies who are promoting alternate but expensive products. The local manufacturers, Asbestos Cement Industries Limited, Rhino Roofing Products Limited and Sri Ramco Lanka Limited have stated that cancerous fibre is "blue fibre" which is not used in Sri Lanka. According to their experts, Director of the Sri Lanka Cancer Hospital Dr. M.A.Y. Ariyaratne has said that there was no connection between asbestos roofing sheets and cancer. He was quoted by a national media report that "It is true that blue asbestos is cancerous but not the white which is mainly used in Sri Lanka." He added that there was no evidence to show that asbestos fibre is in the lungs of the cancer victims. It is also a fact that cancer is hereditary and most of cancer cases are due to tobacco and alcohol. Globally there has been no scientific evidence of any health or environmental problems whatsoever associated with the use of Chrysotile asbestos cement sheets. This has been the recommendation of a working group set up by the World Health Organization (WHO). The study group constituted by the Health and Safety Executive of United Kingdom Government states "Asbestos is sometimes confused in the public mind with asbestos insulation. We would think it necessary, therefore to say that we should not expect danger to arise from existing asbestos products, e.g. roofing, sheeting and accessories." The local manufacturers adopt well-advanced techniques in the production of asbestos cement sheets. They include fully automated plants using a wet and closed loop process. Thousands of Sri Lankan households have been using asbestos cement products over 60 years, and people have been living healthily. Developed and developing countries with large population such as Japan, India, Middle East, U.S.A., etc. are some of the 60 countries who are using asbestos roofing extensively. Only a few Western countries have banned, mainly due to use of blue fibre. Contrary to misconception there are many advantages of asbestos cement sheets. Like metal, asbestos sheets do not deteriorate with age but they get stronger and need no maintenance. Asbestos sheets are also inherently resistant to fire, heat, rain, corrosive coastal weather and industrial pollution. |
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