Asbestos Use in the Philippines

Asbestos, a naturally-occurring mineral with a thread-like structure, has been valued since ancient times for its strength and insulating properties.  It has been added to many materials that are subjected to extreme temperatures or prone to catching fire.  However, if the asbestos fibers are released into the air, they can be inhaled and lodge in the lungs, causing health problems such as lung scarring, asbestosis, and a form of cancer called mesothelioma.  Symptoms of mesothelioma may take between 20 and 50 years to appear after exposure.  Many countries have taken steps to severely restrict or ban asbestos, but legislation in the Philippines still permits use of the mineral.

A 2004 country report states that asbestos has been used in construction projects in the Philippines since 1954, when the first local company began to manufacture materials containing the mineral.  It is estimated that, in the 50 year period that followed, 30,000 workers were directly or indirectly exposed to asbestos.  There have been asbestos deposits found in the Northern Philippines, but the country imports most of the substance from Canada.  Roofing materials, clutch discs, and brake linings manufactured in the Philippines contain high quantities of asbestos.  A law passed in 2000 requires companies who use the mineral to register with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, but has little power to punish companies that do not comply.

Those in the construction and shipbuilding industries have been at the greatest risk of exposure.  In 1992, a survey showed that of the 86 workers in the construction industry who were examined, 12 showed signs of asbestosis, a chronic inflammation of the lungs.  A 1997 report showed that more than a third of the 1400 shipbuilders studied exhibited those same signs.  Even more serious than asbestosis is mesothelioma, a cancer that affects the lining of the lungs and abdomen.  Mesothelioma symptoms are often mistaken for those of less serious lung ailments, so the cancer may go undiagnosed until the late stages, when traditional cancer treatments are only marginally effective.

Many citizens of the Philippines are aware of the dangers posed by asbestos and are seeking legislative change.  Labor unions and homeowners alike have joined together to call for a ban on the mineral, even as Canada proposes to build new asbestos mining facilities.  It is unlikely that a traveler to the Philippines will encounter asbestos fibers in the air, where they are most dangerous, but there are a few things worth keeping in mind.  First, construction sites should be avoided, and hotels and hostels undergoing renovation ought to be considered with a critical eye.  A little planning and common sense can prevent exposure to this dangerous substance.