Context: The Ministry of Education has banned the use of asbestos in construction or refurbishment of Kendriya Vidyalayas (KVs) and Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas (JNVs).
Relevance of the topic : Prelims: Key facts related to Asbestos.
Asbestos:
- Asbestos is a group of six-naturally occurring silicate minerals composed of long, thin fibres.
- Chemically, asbestos contains atoms of silicon and oxygen in their molecular structure. The main form in current use is chrysotile (white asbestos).
- It has a widespread commercial use owing to its material properties - durability, resistance to heat, and insulating properties.
Uses of Asbestos:
- Due to its heat and corrosion resistance, asbestos is widely used in Construction, textiles, automotive parts etc.
- Despite a ban on asbestos mining in 1993, India continues to import and use chrysotile (a type of asbestos) primarily for asbestos-cement roofing and other applications.
- India imports Asbestos mainly from Russia, Kazakhstan and China.
Issues related with use of Asbestos
- Exposure to asbestos causes chronic respiratory diseases such as asbestosis (fibrosis of the lungs), and other adverse effects on the lungs.
- If products containing asbestos are disturbed, tiny asbestos fibers are released into the air.
- Asbestos fibers may get trapped in the lungs. Over time, these fibers can accumulate and cause lung scarring and inflammation.
- All six main forms of asbestos have been assessed by WHO as being carcinogenic to humans. It causes cancer of the lung, larynx and ovaries, and mesothelioma (a cancer of the pleural and peritoneal linings).
- Continuous exposure to asbestos can cause damage to DNA.