At least one in three Europeans can be exposed to asbestos at work and in the environment
About one third of the 900 million people
in the WHO European Region live in countries that have not yet banned the use
of all forms of asbestos, and this potentially exposes them at work and in the
environment. In countries where asbestos is banned, exposure persists from past
use. Exposure to asbestos can cause cancer of the lungs, ovaries and larynx;
mesothelioma; and asbestosis: the most efficient way to eliminate these
diseases is to stop the use of all types of asbestos. At its closure, the
high-level meeting on environment and health in Haifa, Israel, urgently calls
upon all European countries to eliminate asbestos-related diseases.