Friable asbestos removal in Manila Thermal Power Plant
This post is in relation to my previous post about the campaign for the passage of a law to ban asbestos. The purpose of this post is to increase the awareness of the health risks related to occupational asbestos exposure, e.g., asbestosis and mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is a signal tumor for asbestos exposure that occurs among workers’ family members from dust on the workers clothes and among neighbors of asbestos air pollution point sources. Based on some experimental animal studies, high inhalation exposures to all forms of asbestos for only hours can cause cancer.
Asbestos is found in construction materials like asbestos-cement (AC) flat and corrugated sheet, AC pipe, and AC water storage tanks. Other products still being manufactured with asbestos content include vehicle brake and clutch pads, roofing, and gaskets. Though today asbestos is hardly used in construction materials other than asbestos-containing products, it is still found in older buildings in the form of friable surfacing materials, thermal system insulation, non-friable flooring materials, and other applications. The removal and maintenance of these materials warrant special attention. One example is the Manila Thermal Power Plant (MTPP) that is now sold to Gagasan Steel Inc for $2.5 million. Under the terms of the sale, Gagasan Steel was given 270 days for the actual start of the project and mobilization and six months, subject to extension, to dismantle the plant building and equipment and clean up the site.
Here’s a link of video showing how disgusting the clean-up procedures conducted by Gagasan Steel at the MTTP.
Based from the video, they have committed various violations during clean-up, which include no sealed enclosure, no decontamination unit, no negative air unit, and asbestos is not being wet sufficiently. Worst, they are being swept, not vacuumed. See the dusts all over the place. It is really very hazardous to the workers and the community near the area. FYI, Manila Thermal Power Plant is very close to Adamson University, residential areas, and manufacturing plants UNILEVER). Tsk tsk tsk!
For more information about banning asbestos in the Philippines, you may visit the website of the Trade Union Congress of Philippines.
4 Responses to “Friable asbestos removal in Manila Thermal Power Plant”
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I am not aware of this before, that has bad elements. Thank you for sharing the article.
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you will be interested in paragraphs 5 to 7.
thank you.
‘Better’ test for asbestos cancer
August 24, 2009
Scientists claim they have developed a more sensitive test for the asbestos-related cancer mesothelioma.
The cancer develops long after exposure to asbestos but patients usually have a limited life expectancy.
The test developed by a team at Oxford University looks at levels of a protein closely linked to the cancer in fluid around the lungs.
A UK lung expert welcomed the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine study.
Mesothelioma is an invariably fatal tumour found in the surface of the lung. While relatively rare, it is very difficult to treat because of its location and because it does not seem to respond well to chemotherapy.
The disease has been found in people with no history of exposure to asbestos, but inhaling the dust released by the mineral when it is broken up is known to be a key risk factor.
It has particularly affected tradesmen such as joiners, plumbers and electricians.
Because it can take many decades for the disease to develop, experts expect the number of cases in the UK to peak at around 2,200 by 2013.
Laws preventing occupational exposure to asbestos are in place in the developed world. There are no such restrictions in developing countries, however.
High levels
The researchers focused on ways of distinguishing mesothelioma as a cause of pleural effusion, the build-up of fluid in the pleural cavity surrounding the lungs.
There are many causes of this symptom, many of which are benign or linked to other types of cancer but over 90% of people with mesothelioma have the symptom.
At the moment, doctors carry out pleural fluid cytology – a lab test which looks for cancerous cells.
However the Oxford team say this is not a very sensitive test.
Team members used pleural fluid samples from over 200 patients who had been referred to a specialist respiratory clinic.
They then looked at levels of the protein meothelin – which is released in high quantities in the pleural fluid of most patients with mesothelioma.
It was found that levels of the protein were almost six times higher in patients with the cancer than in those with secondary lung cancers, and 10 times greater than those with benign conditions.
Rapid diagnosis
Dr Helen Davies, who worked on the research, said: “This study suggests a way for clinicians to more readily identify cases of mesothelioma from the start.”
She added: “Because mesothelioma has a median survival time of 12 months, minimising the number of invasive procedures and tests patients require is crucial to reduce morbidity and the time they need to spend in hospital.
“An earlier diagnosis also allows speedier interventions to relieve symptoms as well as initiation of other treatments such as chemotherapy or radiotherapy if appropriate.
“Claims for worker’s compensation may also be instigated once the diagnosis is confirmed.”
Dr Paul Beckett of the British Thoracic Society said: “A simple test which can exclude the diagnosis without resort to more invasive methods would be welcomed, allowing a more streamlined diagnostic pathway both for those with and without the disease.
“Such a pathway would be expected to lead to more rapid diagnosis and therefore treatment and perhaps improve the outlook for this disease, as well as avoiding unnecessary tests in those who don’t have mesothelioma.” –BBC News
Cedric R. Bagtas
Deputy General Secretary
Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP)
CRB Mobile: +63 917 831 3997
TUCP Fax: (632) 921 9758
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