Asbestos is a generic term referring to a group of natural minerals made up of very fine fibers. It is a natural product, extracted from mines or open-pit quarries.

Where is asbestos still extracted?

The main producing countries are:

  • Russia: the world’s leading producer, responsible for about 70% of global production, with nearly 790,000 tonnes per year.

  • Kazakhstan: the second-largest producer, with around 200,000 to 250,000 tonnes per year.

  • China: still produces chrysotile asbestos and consumes large amounts of it in its cement industry.

  • India: no longer officially extracts asbestos, but imports large quantities from Russia and Kazakhstan to manufacture asbestos-cement products.

  • Brazil: production was banned in 2017, but some operations continued illegally for a few years afterward.

  • Zimbabwe: resumed asbestos mining on a small scale in 2019, notably at the Shabanie and Mashaba mines.

Overall, global production amounts to around 1.2 million tonnes per year.

Why do these countries continue to extract asbestos?

Several reasons explain this persistence:

  • Economic reasons: asbestos is a cheap material with good insulating and fire-resistant properties.

  • Weak regulation: in several countries, environmental and health laws are poorly enforced.

  • Domestic demand and export: these countries sell asbestos to states where bans do not yet exist, particularly in Asia and Africa.

What do they do with asbestos?

  • Mining extraction of chrysotile (white asbestos), the most common form.

  • Processing into industrial products: cement sheets, roofing materials, pipes, brake linings, etc.

  • Export to developing countries for construction and industrial use.

Health and regulatory context

  • The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that asbestos causes more than 200,000 deaths each year from lung diseases and cancers (mesothelioma, asbestosis, etc.).
  • More than 70 countries have completely banned asbestos, including most European states.
  • However, the major producing countries (Russia, China, Kazakhstan, Zimbabwe) still oppose a worldwide ban.

 

  • There are several types of asbestos, the most common of which are:

    • Chrysotile (white asbestos)

    • Amosite (brown asbestos)

    • Crocidolite (blue asbestos)

    Chrysotile belongs to the serpentine rock family: its fibers have a spiral shape.
    Amosite and crocidolite belong to the amphibole group, whose fibers are straight and needle-like.
    Amphiboles are considered the most harmful to health, but this type of asbestos was used less frequently than chrysotile.
    Chrysotile, being cheaper and easier to process, accounts for about 90% of all asbestos production and use worldwide. The different types of asbestos can initially be distinguished by the color of the raw rock.

    Once the material has been processed, this distinction is no longer visible to the naked eye: only laboratory analysis can determine the presence and type of asbestos.

    In general, materials containing asbestos cannot be identified visually, except by experienced specialists who know how to recognize products that may contain it.

     

  • Materials containing asbestos are classified into two groups based on their composition and state of preservation:

    1. Bound Asbestos

    These are products in which asbestos fibers are firmly trapped within a binder, and their condition is generally stable. Thanks to this cohesion, the fibers are not easily released.
    The binder is often made of cement, bitumen, plastic, or adhesive.
    These materials release very few fibers, except when they are handled or damaged (sawing, sanding, drilling, grinding, etc.).
    The most common examples are corrugated sheets and asbestos-cement slates.

    2. Friable (or Unbound) Asbestos

    This category includes materials in which asbestos fibers are not fixed with a solid binder. Their asbestos content is often much higher.
    These products are highly vulnerable to damage: even a minor impact or friction can release large amounts of fibers into the air.
    This type of asbestos is mainly found in sprayed coatings, bulk thermal insulation, and some weakly bound panels used in suspended ceilings.
    These materials are considered the most dangerous because they can release a significant amount of asbestos fibers.

    A “Miracle Material” Turned Poison

    At the beginning of the 20th century, asbestos was seen as a miracle material due to its versatility.
    Adding asbestos made products stronger, more durable, and less expensive.
    Its insulating properties (against heat, sound, and electricity) made it an ideal component for many uses, including:

    • Manufacturing fire doors,

    • Flower boxes, posts, or pipes,

    • Wall and ceiling coverings,

    • Insulation sprayed on pipes or metal structures.

    Asbestos could be spun, woven, or incorporated into a wide variety of materials, which explains its extensive use in construction and industry throughout much of the 20th century.

    Learn more about the use of asbestos over time in Belgium.