Worldwide Asbestos Supply and Consumption: 1900 through 2003

Admittedly, this resource is more for us academics than either Meso Warriors or those in the front line treatments, research, prevention, or fighting the other battles. However, this reference contains a wealth of historical information not readily available from anywhere else.

I am speaking, of course, about the U.S. Geological Survey’s Circular 1298 which was published in 2006 entitled Worldwide Asbestos Supply and Consumption Trends from 1900 through 2003. This 80 page powerhouse is truly global (rather than United States focused) in nature. You may find and download a complete copy from https://theasbestosblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/2003-Asbestos-WW-Consumption-1900-to-2003.pdf.

As stated in the Abstract:

“The use of asbestos is one of the most controversial issues surrounding the industrial minerals industry. Its carcinogenic nature, an overall lack of knowledge of minimum safe exposure levels, its widespread use for more than 100 years, and the long latency for the development of lung cancer and mesothelioma are the main contributing factors to these controversies. Another factor is that, despite decades of research, the mechanisms responsible for its carcinogenic properties are still largely unknown.”

Let’s look at Russia’s involvement:

“The United States and Western European nations were the largest consumers of asbestos during the first two-thirds of the 20th century. They were surpassed by the collective production and consumption of Kazakhstan and Russia by the 1970s. After the onset of the health issues concerning asbestos in the late 1960s and early 1970s, the decline in world production and consumption began to be evident in the late 1970s and early 1980s. The 1991 breakup of the Soviet Union, a major user of asbestos, resulted in a significant decline in asbestos consumption and production in former Soviet-bloc countries. Consumption and production in Kazakhstan and Russia increased through 2003 from 2001, albeit to a much lower level than in the 1980s.”

Also from the Abstract about worldwide consumption:

“In 2003, world consumption was estimated to be 2.11 Mt, about 45 percent that of 1980. Relatively few countries in Asia, the Middle East, South America, and the former Soviet Union remained as the leading users of asbestos. China was the leading consuming nation, using an estimated 492,000 metric tons (t) in 2003. China was followed, in decreasing order of consumption, by Russia (429,000 t), India (192,000 t), Kazakhstan (174,000 t), Ukraine (156,000 t), Thailand (133,000 t), Brazil (78,400 t), and Iran (75,800 t). These eight countries accounted for 82 percent of the world’s apparent consumption in 2003. Following Iran, in decreasing order of consumption by tonnage, were Uzbekistan (42,400 t), Vietnam (39,400 t), Indonesia (32,300 t), the Republic of Korea (23,800 t), Kyrgyzstan (23,700 t), Japan (23,400 t), and Mexico (20,100 t). Consumption in all other countries was estimated to be less than 15,000 t each in 2003. Sizable consumption increases occurred in Azerbaijan, China, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Thailand, and Ukraine between 2000 and the end of 2003. Consumption patterns in countries using less than 5,000 t per year were too erratic to ascertain any trends in their use of asbestos.”

Let me know if you find the circular worthwhile to you, your clients, or others who are involved in asbestos related issues. My email is TheAsbestosBlog@gmail.com, or just leave a comment. Thanks. Marty