Asbestos and real situation in Vietnam

ABAN Meeting in Dhaka 2013

Hong-Luu Pham, MD, PhD

NILP-Vietnam

National Profile of Asbestos and Occupational Health

• Initiation in 2009

• Implemented by National Institute of Labour Protection

• Profile was written according to guideline by WHO/ILO including items related to asbestos: regulations, importation, mining, industries using asbestos, working condition, amount of labor exposing to asbestos, asbestos related diseases…

• Information: www.nilp.vn

•

What is the biggest problem in Vietnam?

Production of fibro cement roofing shingles75 – 80%

• Shipbuilding, ship breaking industry

• Maintenance of boiled device

• Other

20 – 25%

Asbestos Importation in Vietnam 1992 - 2011

M

etri

c to

ns

No Country 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

1 Russia 62.280 58.396 57.482 59.017 61.1322 China 1.580 1.734 878 249 4833 Kazakhstan   4.925 2.894 2.423 1.126

4 Thailand 9.000      5 Canada 960 819 2.252 599 1406 Dominica         1.481

7 Zimbabwe 756      8 Brazil 540 1.168 1.320 2.400 2.300

Total 75.116 67.975 64.826 64.699 66.662

Countries exported asbestos to Vietnam 2007 - 2011

• 20 factories in Northern area

• 10 factories in Middle area

• 5 factories in Southern are

• 4 factories closed

Total amount of 39 factories to produce roofing shingles in Vietnam

Inside Roofing Shingle Manufactures

53 assembly lines in 2013

Roofing shingles are used in:

• Poor household in rural area

• Remote area

• Temporary house in construction sites

• Stable, pigpen, henhouse…

• Stores

• Production: 85 millions m2 per year, equal to 80,19% of total designed capacity

• Consumption: 79 million m2 per year

• Stock level: 8 - 10% (some factories in north area: 15 - 20%)

• Prices:

+ Southern area: 50,000 – 51,000 VND/m2 ( equal to 2.3 USD/m2)

+ Northern are: 42,000 – 44,000 VND/m2 (equal to 1.9 – 2 USD/m2)

Statistical data of asbestos related products in 2012:

Health Information

• There is no specific health survey related with asbestos

• Since 1976, Asbestosis was accepted in the list of occupational disease in Vietnam. However, there is only 3 cases of asbestosis received compensation from Social Insurance Fund

New regulations related toAsbestos and Occupational Health in Vietnam

1. Decision No.121/2008 QD-TTg about National strategy for development of construction materials up to 2020 has banded using amphibole. Factories using chrysolite for roofing lite products have to be controlled working condition conformity with environmental and health regulations

2. Regulation No. 03/2012/TT-BXD by Ministry of Construction on 9/5/2012 to band importation of crocicodolite, Amosite, Anthophilite, Actinolite, Tremolite

3. Regulation No. 14/2013/TT-BYT by Ministry of Health on 5/6/2013 to assign in detail about recruitment health examination, periodical health check-up, health examination before retirement …for worker

Suggestions:

1. Training and educational program to prevent adverse effect to health

2. Management: reduce exposing to asbestos

3. Providing PPE for worker

4. Periodical health check-up

5. Transportation in closed tight boxes

6. Monitoring, control of industrial waste

7. Find other materials less toxic than asbestos

8. To prohibit importation, production and trade of asbestos related-products

Thank you for your kind attention!