Environment Ministry’s Denial Of Asbestos Threat Endangers People

As other countries ban asbestos, environment ministry claims no studies prove use of substance is harmful.

The auto industry will continue to use asbestos in brake, clutch and brake linings, the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change decided, saying there was no conclusive evidence that asbestos in car parts is harmful to human health.

Studies show that asbestos, a fibrous mineral that can also be used in construction, can be cancer inducing. It occurs when asbestos is absorbed into the lungs, forming plaques.

Millions of workers involved in the auto industry are exposed to the fibre.

The ministry of environment, forests and climate change (MoEFCC) has no information on use of asbestos in auto components such as brake, clutches and heat seals. There are no peer reviewed study reports on the subject commissioned by concerned administrative ministry or its subordinate organisation, in the government of India, based on which a tangible course of action may be taken on merit.

Bishwanath Sinha, Environment Ministry Joint Secretary, told Times of India.

Many countries, like the United States and Europe, have banned the use of the fibre in roof tiling and wall building. They are even moving towards banning it from car manufacturing.

But in India, the guidelines are different. In 2010, the government passed a law that requires environmental impact assessments to be carried out on industries that use asbestos. The impact assessment looks at asbestos released from products.

And the car manufacturing industry is only one of the areas where asbestos is commonly used. The cement industry uses the material much more frequently, a report from the Environmental Impact Assessment guidelines found.