Global Asbestos Threat Persists Despite Widespread Bans and Mounting Evidence

Long after restrictions and regulations have taken hold in dozens of countries, legacy asbestos continues to expose workers and communities to preventable health risks.

• By Bernard Fontaine, Jr.
• Jun 03, 2025

Historical Use of Asbestos

By the late 1900s, evidence of harm had led many governments to regulate or phase out its use. By 2024, 68 countries and territories prohibit the use of asbestos-containing materials. Even so, legacy asbestos remains in millions of buildings and products worldwide, so exposure still occurs during renovation, demolition, and improper handling

Health Risks of Asbestos Exposure

All forms of asbestos are known human carcinogens. WHO and IARC classify all six common asbestos fiber types (chrysotile, amosite, crocidolite, tremolite, actinolite, anthophyllite) as Group 1 carcinogens.

• Malignant Mesothelioma: a rare, aggressive lung cancer of the abdominal lining. Virtually all cases are linked to asbestos exposure. The latency is long (typically 30–50 years after first exposure) and risk persists for life. Even light exposure carries risk; there is no known safe threshold for mesothelioma risk.
• Lung Cancer: asbestos exposure significantly raises lung cancer risk, especially among smokers. Epidemiological studies report lung cancer risk ratios of roughly 2–5 times higher in exposed workers (some studies showing up to 9-fold higher risk with asbestosis).
• Asbestosis: a chronic fibrotic lung disease from heavy, long-term asbestos exposure. It leads to scarring of lung tissue, breathing difficulty, and reduced lung function. Asbestosis often co-occurs with increases in cancer risk.
• Other Cancers: asbestos is causally linked to cancers of the larynx, ovaries, and possibly the pharynx, stomach, colon and rectum. IARC concluded that asbestos exposure causes laryngeal and ovarian cancer. Cohort and meta-analysis studies confirm elevated risks of laryngeal cancer (RR ~2–3) and ovarian cancer (pooled SMR ~1.8) in exposed workers.

WHO and other agencies note the long latency and widespread historical use. Asbestos-related diseases remain a major public health threat. WHO estimates over 200,000 occupational deaths per year worldwide are caused by asbestos (about 70% of work-related cancer deaths), plus millions of disability-adjusted life years (DALYs).

In the U.S. alone, EPA estimates asbestos exposure is linked to more than 40,000 deaths each year (from lung, mesothelioma, ovarian and laryngeal cancer). Notably, a recent global analysis found that roughly 27,000 deaths from mesothelioma occurred in 2019, nearly all attributable to past occupational asbestos exposure. The WHO reported in 2018 that about 125 million people worldwide are still exposed to asbestos at work. These figures underline that even after bans, the disease burden will continue for decades due to past use.

Evidence from Scientific Studies

A vast body of research documents asbestos’s harms. IARC’s Monographs and WHO reviews summarize epidemiological and toxicological evidence. WHO and IARC explicitly state that all asbestos forms cause lung, laryngeal and ovarian cancer, and mesothelioma. Meta-analyses show consistent dose–response relationships: higher asbestos exposure yields higher cancer risks, and there is no safety threshold. The scientific consensus is unequivocal that asbestos exposure causes disabling and fatal diseases.

Global Health Burden

The toll of asbestos on public health is staggering. WHO/ILO joint estimates (2016 data) attribute 200,000+ deaths per year to occupational asbestos exposure. These asbestos-related diseases amount to over 70% of work-related cancer deaths. By 2019, global mesothelioma alone caused ~27,000 deaths, nearly all linked to past work exposures. The associated ill-health burden is immense – on the order of millions of DALYs annually.

Some countries still report high mortality: the U.S. sees ~40,000 asbestos-linked cancer deaths yearly, while countries like Australia and the UK – despite early bans – have some of the world’s highest mesothelioma rates because of heavy past use. The Global Burden of Disease study warns that, without intervention, asbestos-related deaths will continue to rise in aging populations and in countries with late-stage bans. Notably, many developing countries are only now reducing use: WHO estimated some 125 million workers remain exposed at global work sites, especially in parts of Asia, Latin America and Eastern Europe where asbestos mining and use continues.

Challenges in Phasing Out Asbestos

Despite the bans, significant challenges remain in eliminating asbestos risk globally:

• Remaining Use and Production: Some countries still mine or import chrysotile. Russia remains the world’s largest producer (∼700,000 tons/year, ~60% of global supply), exporting much of it to developing markets. China, India, Kazakhstan and others also import asbestos. Economic factors (job losses, industry resistance) can delay bans. Asbestos industry lobbyists sometimes spread misinformation to oppose regulation.
• Legacy Asbestos: Even in countries that banned asbestos decades ago, tens of millions of structures still contain it. As the European Environment Agency notes, “despite being banned since 2005, exposure to asbestos continues to happen and cancer cases due to past exposure will continue to be detected”. Renovation, demolition and natural disasters (which can release asbestos dust) pose ongoing hazards. Adequate funding and training for safe abatement and disposal are often lacking, especially for small contractors or developing countries. Improper removal can itself release asbestos, endangering workers and bystanders.
• Trade and Illegal Imports: International trade can undermine bans. Even sanctioned countries may export or transit asbestos-containing materials. Canada’s regulations allow some limited trade for specialized uses, and illegal importation remains a concern in places like Australia. Global stockpiles of asbestos or waste also require management.
• Continued Medical Burden: Because of the long latency, mesothelioma and other diseases will continue peaking many years after use stops. Health systems must remain prepared to diagnose and treat asbestos diseases. Compensation schemes for victims (as enacted in Japan and elsewhere) are also needed.
• Alternative Materials: While many alternatives exist, replacing asbestos can involve cost and new safety evaluations. In some cases, substitutes must be as reliable as the asbestos materials they replace. Technical and economic support may be required for a smooth transition in industries that historically relied on asbestos.

Table 1 - Common Asbestos-Containing Products and Safer Substitutes

Asbestos Product	Function	Non-Asbestos Substitute(s)
Thermal insulation (pipes, boilers, walls)	Heat/fire resistance	Mineral wool, fiberglass, ceramic fiber, calcium silicate
Fireproof textiles (gloves, blankets)	Heat shielding	Kevlar®, Nomex®, fiberglass fabrics, silica fabric
Roofing materials (shingles, sheets)	Durability, weather/fire resistance	Fiber cement (without asbestos), metal roofing, bitumen sheets
Cement pipes and panels	Strength, durability	PVC, HDPE, ductile iron, non-asbestos fiber cement
Brake pads and linings	Friction, heat resistance	Aramid fibers (e.g., Kevlar), ceramic, semi-metallic composites
Gaskets and seals	High-pressure, heat sealing	PTFE (Teflon), graphite, aramid fiber composites
Flooring (vinyl tiles, mastics)	Fire resistance, binding	Vinyl without asbestos, linoleum, rubber or ceramic tiles
Sprayed fireproof coatings	Fire protection on structural steel	Intumescent coatings, mineral wool blankets, vermiculite-based sprays
Asbestos paper and millboard	Electrical and heat insulation	Cellulose-based or ceramic papers, mica boards
Laboratory countertops and fume hoods	Chemical/heat resistance	Epoxy resin, phenolic resin, stainless steel

Protecting Workers and Communities

The fundamental goal of asbestos regulation is prevention – eliminating exposures so that no new cases occur. This means:

• Banning Use: As WHO and many experts stress, the most efficient prevention is to end use of asbestos entirely. Each new ban removes a source of future disease. For uses already banned, ensuring compliance and closing loopholes is crucial.
• Safe Abatement: For existing asbestos, protecting workers and the public during maintenance and removal is vital. This requires strict enforcement of regulations: respirators, protective clothing, wet methods and HEPA filtration during abatement, and proper waste handling. Training abatement workers reduce accidental exposure. Communities by removal sites must be safeguarded with dust controls and public notices.
• Environmental Monitoring: Air and water surveillance in areas with asbestos use helps catch contamination early. For example, replacing asbestos-cement pipes and monitoring drinking water can prevent ingestion exposures (a minor but real route).
• Regulatory Compliance: Asbestos regulatory compliance requirements are designed to prevent exposure to asbestos fibers, which can cause deadly diseases such as mesothelioma, lung cancer, and asbestosis. These requirements vary by country.
• Product Substitution: Replacing asbestos with safer alternatives is a key strategy to prevent exposure and eliminate asbestos-related diseases. Many materials once relied on asbestos for heat resistance, insulation, fireproofing, or mechanical strength—but modern substitutes now meet those needs without the associated health risks.
• Public Awareness: Informing the public about where asbestos may be present encourages caution. Labeling and disclosure laws for buildings can empower owners and renovators to hire licensed abatement professionals. Community groups often drive awareness in high-risk areas.
• International Cooperation: As asbestos trade is global, international standards and collaboration help. Global bodies like WHO and ILO encourage knowledge-sharing and technical assistance. Some countries provide aid or expertise to phase out asbestos.
• Health Surveillance: Regular medical check-ups and registries for exposed workers enable early detection of disease. Some countries (e.g. Japan, UK) keep mesothelioma registries and require reporting, which informs policy. Worker education and smoking cessation programs can further lower overall lung cancer risk for exposed populations

In summary, a comprehensive approach – legal bans, worker protections, product substitution, public health surveillance, and safe industrial practices – is needed to eliminate asbestos harm. As WHO and EPA emphasize, putting asbestos “back on the shelf” through bans is just the first step; ongoing vigilance is required to protect current workers and residents from legacy asbestos. For more detailed information about asbestos use and the impact on worker health, please visit: https://youtu.be/t-qhnUm7T3s?si=eLXn0PRy3dKEo_41