Information about asbestos issues at the national level
was compiled for ten Asian countries (China, Indonesia,
Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore,
Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam) regarding 1) bans and
consumption levels; 2) occupational exposure limits
(OELs) and medical follow-up schemes; and 3) statistics
and compensation status of asbestosis and mesothelioma
victims. Only Singapore and recently Japan have
adopted a total ban an asbestos. China, a major producer
of chrysotile, showed an increasing consumption
trend, which was typical of the less industrialized countries.
Considerable differences between countries
existed in OELs (0.1 to 5.0 fibers/mL) and medical
follow-up of exposed workers. National statistics for
asbestosis and mesothelioma were available for only the
industrialized countries, where reported cases as well as
compensated cases were relatively few. There is need to
improve the quality and quantity of information, but
the available information attests to unfavorable conditions
in the less industrialized countries. Hence the
experience of industrialized countries regarding
asbestos and its use should be utilized to the fullest to
improve the situation worldwide.