Globalization and the transfer of hazardous industry: asbestos in Mexico, 1979-2000.
This study quantified asbestos use in Mexico in the past decade and evaluated available data on mortality due to malignant mesothelioma in Mexico between 1979 and 2000. Mortality data were analyzed from secondary databases of the Mexican Social Security System and the Ministry of Health. Data on the import and export of asbestos in Mexico were obtained from the Ministry of Trade and Industrial Development of Mexico. Deaths due to pleural mesothelioma significantly increased in this period. Although the import of asbestos declined, the number of Mexican products that contain asbestos tripled. Export of Mexican asbestos-containing products to Central America grew rapidly in the last ten years of the study. Mexico continues the appreciable use of asbestos and has experienced a significant increase in the occurrence of the sentinel asbestos-related disease, malignant mesothelioma. Given the many limitations to the control of hazardous work exposures in Mexico, a ban on asbestos is advocated as the most feasible means of limiting an epidemic of asbestos-related disease.
Aguilar-Madrid
Guadalupe
G
Coordinación de Salud en el Trabajo, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Centro Médico Nacional. Distrito Federal, México. arturoj@cuer.laneta.apc.org
Juárez-Pérez
Cuauhtémoc A
CA
Markowitz
Steven
S
Hernández-Avila
Mauricio
M
Sanchez Roman
Francisco Raúl
FR
Vázquez Grameix
Juan Humberto
JH
D001194:Asbestos / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000191:economics; D002273:Carcinogens / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000191:economics; D003132:Commerce / Q000266:history; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D015386:Hazardous Substances; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006801:Humans; D008654:Mesothelioma / Q000209:etiology* / Q000266:history / Q000401:mortality; D008800:Mexico; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D011640:Public Policy; D014481:United States
D002273:Carcinogens; D015386:Hazardous Substances; D001194:Asbestos