Russia, world’s largest producer of asbestos, protests asbestos ban proposed by international forum
Russia protested this week as health experts at the first World Society Security Forum in Moscow called for a global asbestos ban because of the health risks associated with asbestos exposure. An asbestos industry head in Russian claimed that “It’s just a PR campaign when they say that asbestos can kill.” Scientists at the international forum, however, said that approximately 100,000 people die of asbestos disease each year. Russia accounts for approximately 40 percent of world asbestos production, by far the largest share of the asbestos market. Russia opposes the ban because of the economic impact it would have. Russian experts claim that up to 500,000 Russian workers could lose their jobs if a global asbestos ban were passed.
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