Slate, the most popular roofing material in Ukraine, can be completely banned in the country. This follows from the draft law No. 4142 "On the public health system" adopted by the Verkhovna Rada in the first reading.
Article 25 of this project contains a rule prohibiting the use of a substance called "asbestos" in any technological processes.
Previously, almost the entire EU and the USA recognized asbestos, which is actively used all over the world for the production of slate, thermal insulation, pipes and plaster, as very dangerous to health. Many studies have proven that the mineral causes serious diseases, including pleural mesothelioma, lung cancer, etc.
At the same time, people in Ukrainian villages are afraid that they will be forced to dismantle the old slate and replace it with expensive European tiles.
Meanwhile, the Verkhovna Rada assures that the purpose of adopting the draft law is "to protect the health of Ukrainians by reducing the level of morbidity and mortality from diseases caused by the influence of asbestos dust."
According to the World Health Organization, currently about 100 people in the world die annually from diseases caused by asbestos.
Currently, there are seven enterprises in Ukraine that use this material in production. About 4 people work for them. man Some manufacturers have already established the production of asbestos-free slate.
As a reminder, in 2012, the Ministry of Health approved the State sanitary norms and rules "On safety and protection of workers from the harmful effects of asbestos and asbestos-containing materials" by order No. 1 dated October 762. At the same time, the decision of the Chief State Sanitary Doctor of Ukraine dated 02.07.2012 No. 16 established the maximum permissible concentration (MPC) of chrysotile asbestos fibers in the air of the working area — one fiber/cube. cm, 1st hazard class, carcinogen.
The specified normative acts were developed within the framework of harmonization with the requirements of Directive 2009/148/EC. But, unfortunately, in the process of preparing the document, only one name was transferred from the European directive to the Ukrainian sanitary rules and norms. The European limit of maximum concentration of chrysotile asbestos fibers in the air of the working area is 0,1 fiber/cubic. cm - 10 times harder than Ukrainian ones.
Ukraine signed the Parma Declaration at the fifth Conference of Ministers on Health and Environmental Protection and undertook to develop a National Action Plan for the Elimination of Asbestos-related Diseases.
Enterprises using asbestos import it from the Russian Federation and Kazakhstan.
