European Economic and Social Committee and
the Committee of the Regions Conference:
Freeing Europe Safely from Asbestos
June 24, 2015
Confronting Europe’s Asbestos Crisis
Laurie Kazan-Allen
The Challenge
The Risks
As bad as these statistics are, the reality is
even worse; research due to be published
shortly estimates that 47,000+ people are
dying every year in the 28 EU Member States
from asbestos-related cancers and respiratory
diseases.
The Reality
The situation we face in the EU is a result of
decades of asbestos use; from 1920 to 2014,
the current members of the EU used an
estimated 40 million tonnes of asbestos. Over
the same period, a further 65 million tonnes
was used in Europe by non-EU members.
Post-ban Challenges
A few 2015 media reports about the ongoing hazard are informative:
• UK: Asbestos scare may force out MPs ] – June 7, 2015.
• Italy: Thermos cinesi con pasticche di amianto: dieci
sequestri dal mese di ottobre 2014 [Chinese thermos with
asbestos insulation; ten seizures since October 2014] –
March 18, 2015.
• Belgium: Amiante dans nos écoles, la loi du silence?
[Asbestos in our schools, the law of silence?] – February
11, 2015.
• Italy: Amianto, import fuorilegge in Italia: Guariniello apre
un’inchiesta [Asbestos, import banned in Italy: Guariniello
initiating an investigation] – January 11, 2015.
Status Quo
• Decontamination
• Prevention
• Surveillance, Recognition and Care of
Asbestos Sufferers
Solutions
Comparative Data: Australia v. European Union
Country
Population
(million)
Mesothelioma
Deaths (2012)
Asbestos
Ban
GDP
(US$ [2013])
Australia
24
638
2003
1.56 trillion
503
10,368
2005
18 trillion
EU