Mesothelioma andits partner disease, asbestosis, are not limited to any one person or any onenation.  Asbestos and asbestos productshave been mined and manufactured, and sought after and sold, in nations aroundthe world.  The latent diseases ofasbestosis and its cancerous partner, mesothelioma, are slowly developing intoa world-wide epidemic.



 

Mesothelioma and asbestosis diseases have been clearlydefined as being attributed to asbestos exposure.  Despite these undisputable findings, worldproduction of asbestos has risen from 2.18 million metric tons in 2006 to 2.20million metric tons in 2007, according to the US Government's 2007 MineralsHandbook.   The International World hasyet to agree upon and abide by a universal consensus of asbestos safetylevels.  As some countries ban the use ofasbestos, others continue to seek safe exposure levels, and yet others disregardthe impending health epidemic.  Manysmaller nations continue to ignore the perilous diseases of asbestos, whileasbestos workers may or may not be aware of their life-risking workenvironments.  Even advanced nations failto implement protection and procedures to protect workers exposed to asbestosfor fear of substantial economic loss.

 

Even though the European Union banned asbestos in 2005,European companies still have financial interest in companies located inAfrica, Canada and South America.  Canadahas been one of the world's largest asbestos producers, however they only use29% of what they produce, and aggressive sales efforts are targeted towardsAsia, Africa and South America.  InJapan, local factory and building inspections failed to identify asbestos inmore than half of the buildings inspected. Even with occupational laws in place, India and China fail to protectthe majority of their asbestos workers.

 

 The leaders ofasbestos production, Russia, China, Kazakhstan, Brazil, Canada, and Zimbabwe,are responsible for 96% of the world's asbestos production.  In China, the world's second largest asbestosproducer, a significant portion of asbestos workers work without any protectionin environments conducive to asbestosis and mesothelioma production.   China not only fails to protect its workers fromasbestosis and mesothelioma on a mass scale, but their asbestos producingfactories are typically located near heavily populated cities.  The effects of asbestos exposure and theincidences of asbestosis and mesothelioma are vastly unreported in highlypopulated areas due to lack of medical records, non-existent laws mandatinglengthy medical record-keeping standards, and political interference.

 

Asbestosis and Mesothelioma are devastating diseases thatcan affect men, women and children that are exposed to asbestos.  It is up to the socially responsibleindividuals and corporations to continue their advocacy work to protect hardworking men and women from the incapacitating diseases of asbestosis and mesothelioma.  With the prevalence of asbestos exposure thatstill exists, there is little doubt that asbestosis and mesothelioma willcontinue to develop well into the next century.   The deadly misfortune of the disease onhardworking individuals can only be eradicated with an end to the demand forasbestos containing products.