More research for suitable replacing Chrysotile roadmap

(Đại biểu nhân dân) At the Discussion called “Chrysotile utilization in Vietnam – Scientific and Practical Problems” held in June 2017 in Hanoi, most of the delegator, experts and scientists affirmed that it is necessary to have more research on the toxicity of Chrysotile and an appropriate roadmap for technology transfer.

According to the report of VNRA, Fibro cement roof-sheet industry has existed for over 53 years. Currently, there are 39 factories with 110 million meter square per year of productivity, which provides jobs for over 5000 workers. Recently, it has been said that Chrysotile – one of the components for Fibro cement production- may cause cancer.
Vice President of Science, Technology and Environment Committee Truong Minh Hoang states that: “In mountainous or remote areas, most of the house are covered by Fibro cement roof-sheet. These products have reasonable price and high durability. Many people not only use them but also drink water gathered from rainfall running through them for several decades.

 

Deputy head of Dong Thap Delegation Pham Van Hoa says that: “Fibro cement roof-sheets are widely used in rural regions of Dong Thap. They have a lot of advantages, such as: perfect heat resistance, anti-heat, anti-noise when it rains, anti-corrosive chemicals, especially anti-saline cavitation.
Director of Hospital of Construction Doctor Le Thi Hang affirms that: From 2008 to 2013, the Hospital of Construction had implemented a state-level research and an occupational health-check for over 1.300 AC roof-sheet workers. The result showed no sign of lung disease associated with Chrysotile. In particular, according to statistics of the National Register on Asbestos from 2009 to 2012, the Ministry of Health and the Institute of Labor Science and Technology, with the support of the Government of Japan concluded: The number of x-ray and CT scanner workers exposed to asbestos since 2004 has not yet been found any chrysotile-related diseases.
Most of the delegator and scientists state that while there are no scientific conclusions on how chrysotile is harmful to human health, the government should continue to allow controlled use of them. But in the long run, it is necessary to direct the study and work out a concrete roadmap for enterprises to invest in technology transfer. After the lesson of finding alternative trees in former poppy and tobacco growing areas, Deputy Chairman of the Committee for Social Affairs Bui Si Loi said that the immediate removal of this material is unfeasible in the current conditions. One of the most important solutions is to promote the propaganda, raise the awareness of employers and workers, control and prevent the spread of asbestos dust in the working environment, maintain the factory, equipment, machinery and workplace as little dust as possible. In addition, they have to take part in all the occupational health-check, periodic medical examinations and training courses about occupational safety and asbestos harm reduction must be included.
Deputy Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affair Vu Hai Ha noted that Viet Nam is a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the Eurasian Economic Co-operation Agreement. Accordingly, all member states, including Vietnam, require notification, consultation and negotiation before any intention to issue a ban and there must be scientific evidences for the ban.
Concluding in the Discussion, Deputy Chairman of the Committee on Science, Technology and Environment Le Hong Tinh said that the effect of chrysotile on human health is still a long story and it needs more trustworthy scientific evidences. Even when we have those evidences, the banning production of AC roofing still needs an appropriate roadmap to secure jobs for thousands of workers, particularly to ensure that AC are replaced by alternative roof-sheets for millions of poor households in remote and isolated areas.