Environment activists at a press conference on Monday urged the government to impose ban on asbestos import, marketing and its use in the country to protect people鈥檚 health and environment.
Bangladesh Ban Asbestos Network (B-BAN) and Bangladesh Occupational Safety, Health and Environment Foundation (OSHE foundation) organised the press conference at Dhaka Reporters鈥� Unity to release a study report.
OSHE Foundation executive director Aminur Rashid Chowdhury Repon said that OSHE Foundation and South Korea鈥檚 Asia Citizen Centre for Environment and Health (Eco Health) jointly conducted the study between March 1 and April 4 and found toxic asbestos in cement sheet and brake shoes.聽
鈥榃e have examined four samples and found 50 per cent asbestos in sampled cement sheet, 15 per cent in break shoe but no asbestos in baby powder and soil,鈥� he said.
Asbestos generate asbestosis in human health leading to cancer. Around one million workers worldwide die from asbestos-related diseases every year, said World Health Organisation.
Currently import, marketing and use of asbestos are banned in 62 countries in the world.
OSHE Foundation vice-chair SM Morshed and public health expert professor Mahmud Hossain Faruqi, among others, were present in the press conference.