The National Green Tribunal has asked five mineral-rich states to survey all the asbestos and associated mineral mines and file a report stating the impact of overburden or waste lying at these mines and pits. The green panel had directed the governments of Odisha, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Jharkhand governments to file a report on scientific closure of the asbestos mines and the instances of asbestosis (a lung disease resulting from the inhalation of asbestos particles) in their states.
Asbestos is a set of six naturally occurring silicate minerals.
They are commonly known by their colors, as “blue asbestos”, “brown asbestos”, “white asbestos”, and green asbestos.
The Russian Federation was the largest producer with about 50% world share followed by China (14%), Brazil (12.5%), Kazakhstan (10.5%) and Canada (9%).
Asbestos fibres are easily inhaled and carried into the lower regions of the lung where they can cause fibrotic lung disease (asbestosis) and changes in the lining of the chest cavity (pleura).
