Chemical name: Asbestos, amosite

Final regulatory action has been taken for the category: Industrial

Final regulatory action: The chemical is Banned

Use or uses prohibited by the final regulatory action:

Not applicable.

The ban of asbestos amphiboles refers to any presentation varieties of products or materials that contain them. The possession, processing, export, import, distribution, manufacture and cession, free of charge or not, of all varieties of amphibole asbestos fibers are prohibited: crocidolite, amosite, actinolite, anthophyllite and tremolite, throughout the national territory, as well as fiber varieties or products that contain said compound.

Use or uses that remain allowed:

Not applicable.

Pesticide use or uses that remain allowed:

Not applicable.

The final regulatory action was based on a risk or hazard evaluation: Yes

Summary of the final regulatory action:

The possession, processing, export, import, distribution, manufacture and cession, free of charge or not, of all varieties of amphibole asbestos fibers are prohibited: crocidolite, amosite, actinolite, anthophyllite and tremolite, throughout the national territory, as well as fibre varieties or products that contain said compound.

The reasons for the final regulatory action were relevant to: Human health

Summary of known hazards and risks to human health:

The World Health Organization (WHO), indicates that all forms of asbestos are carcinogenic to humans, and can cause: lung cancer, mesothelioma, asbestosis (pneumoconiosis), plaques, thickening and pleural effusions, laryngeal cancer and other cancers.

The mechanistic basis for asbestos carcinogenicity is a complex interaction between crystalline mineral fibres and target cells in vivo. The most important physicochemical properties of asbestos fibres related to pathogenicity are surface chemistry and reactivity, surface area, fibre dimensions, and biopersistence (see ref. 1).

Among some exposed groups, 50 to 80% of individuals employed for 20 or more years were found to have abnormal radiographies characteristic of asbestos exposure, thus the progression of asbestosis depends on both cumulative exposure and time from exposure (see ref. 2).

Respiratory exposure to high levels of asbestos in the workplace has been associated with pain in the chest, pleural friction rub, rales (wheezing sound in the lower pulmonary region), cyanosis (low oxygen content of blood), loss of weight and formation of asbestos warts on the hands (see ref. 3).

A group of health scientists tested the association between the use of asbestos-cement piping for drinking water supplies and the incidence of kidney and gastrointestinal cancers in Utah. The study found no consistent cancer incidence difference in communities with asbestos pipes compared to communities without the pipes. Leaching from the pipes was minimal (see ref. 4).

Expected effect of the final regulatory action in relation to human health:

Control of occupational exposure and prevention of diseases related to asbestos.

Summary of known hazards and risks to the environment:

Not applicable.

Expected effect of the final regulatory action in relation to the environment:

Not applicable.

Date of entry into force of the final regulatory action: 18/05/2018