US Asbestos Imports Dropped Significantly in 2019

Raw asbestos imported to the United States dropped significantly in 2019, according to the recently released U.S. Geological Survey Mineral Commodity Summaries report. The U.S. imported an estimated 100 metric tons of asbestos last year. It’s the smallest amount since records were first kept in 1910, long before the mineral became a major part of the construction industry in America. That number is in sharp contrast to the 681 metric tons imported in 2018. All imported asbestos went to the chloralkali industry — for the second consecutive year — to use in the manufacturing of semipermeable diaphragms for making chlorine. There are 11 chloralkali factories throughout the country using asbestos diaphragms. They account for one-third of domestic production of chlorine. According to the report, “a small but unknown amount of asbestos” also was imported for various products, including vehicle friction items, brake blocks for the oil industry and materials used in the production of titanium dioxide. “The decline has taken place as a result of health and liability issues associated with asbestos use, leading to the displacement of asbestos from traditional domestic markets by substitutes, alternative materials and new technology,” the report summarized. Daniel Flanagan, a mineral commodity specialist for the National Minerals Information Center, which is part of the U.S. Department of the Interior, prepared the annual report. All Imported Asbestos Came from Russia ...
Source: Asbestos and Mesothelioma News - Category: Environmental Health Authors: Source Type: news