"U.S. apparent consumption of asbestos was calculated to beRead USGS 2011 Mineral Report
1,180 t in 2011, a 13% increase from 1,040 t in 2010 (table 1).
It is likely that much of the additional 140 t of chrysotile
imported in 2011 went into stocks for future use rather than
being used because it was unlikely that markets had expanded.
Roofing products accounted for 41% of U.S. consumption;
diaphragms for the chloralkali industry, 28%; coating and
compounds, 2%; plastics, less than 1%; and other uses, 29%.
Much of the chrysotile for which no end use was specified was
likely to have been imported and (or) used by the chloralkali
industry in 2011, based on trade data reported by United
Business Media Global Trade (undated). Asbestos acts as a
semipermeable diaphragm to separate the chlorine generated
at the cell anode from the starting brine in the electrolytic cell.
Chrysotile was the only type of asbestos used in the United
States in 2011, 49% of which was grade 7, 16% was grade 5,
12% was grade 4, and 23% was unspecified."
More about banning asbestos
Oct 06, 2011
WHO Urges Worldwide Asbestos Ban: Mesothelioma Rates Surge. The World Health Organization urges a worldwide ban on asbestos productions, as deaths from mesothelioma continue to escalate: "In conclusion, malignant ...
Jan 29, 2010
The use of asbestos, a known carcinogen, is not yet banned in the US, but the use of it continues to decline. Asbestos has not been mine in the US since 2002 and therefore the country is dependent upon imports for asbestos ...
Sep 16, 2010
The UN International Labour Organization (ILO) has called for a worldwide ban on asbestos production citing that there is an asbestos related death every 5 minute and asbestos already claims 107000 lives each year.
Jul 22, 2010
Corporate greed resulting in the loss of life is the conclusion of a major investigative report just published concerning the worldwide asbestos trade and global epidemic of disease. The report, strongly urging the rationale for a ...
