http://www.indianexpress.com/story/12101.htmlAsbestos Crippling Ship Workers in India Where normally, it takes more than 10 years for full-blown asbestosis to develop, here its onset was hastened with higher levels of exposure. In ships brought for breaking, free asbestos is usually present as thermal insulation of boilers and floor tiles. When this asbestos is removed, the particles become air-borne and attack the lungs. According to the report, experts have put forth a detailed road map for upgrading the Alang shipyard operations and have highlighted alarming facts related to exposure to asbestos. Until now, India's government has denied any such link.
An official committee has acknowledged that asbestos is taking its toll on the ship-breakers in Alang, Gujarat. The committee is aware that what's needed are sweeping reforms in working conditions and detailed guidelines for dismantling ships and handling the waste. The report says that almost one in six workers (16 percent of the workforce that handles asbestos) could be suffering from an early stage of asbestosis, an irreversible lung condition that could lead to lung cancer.
