India: Toxic Trade—An Asbestos Nightmare (Enhanced DVD)

The consequences of asbestos exposure can lead to serious health related conditions, including mesothelioma. Uncontrolled asbestos   materials used in building construction, manufacturing of products, and industrial insulation are the most common locus of exposure to this deadly chemical. Mesothelioma cases associated with toxic exposure from asbestos, show that medium to prolonged inhalation of asbestos toxic dust found floating in airbourne emissions is the leading prognosis to the disease. In the United States, asbestos is strictly prohibited from sale or use in construction insulation and in manufacture of consumer products. Other developed countries such as Canada, have not legislated restrictions on the manufacture of asbestos materials for export.

Gone are the tiles, thatch and steel. The fact that asbestos is a cheap and efficient solution for insulation, and for fabrication of materials for industrial use, promotes the controversial export of this chemical to developing and emerging countries not restricting sale or use, control over mesothelioma and other asbestos related injuries and diseases cannot be prevented. India’s emergent economy I offers case study to the widespread integration of toxic asbestos materials. Supplied by Canada, restricts asbestos consumption in a more limited approach than the U.S., domestically, yet its export capacity to India shows that asbestos mining is not dead. The program looks at toxic materials as part of the globalization complex; showing how accelerated economic growth has given way to irresponsible trade ethics for the sake of exceptional profits. Inequitable trade impacting low-wage Indian workers living in spaces of poverty is making them vulnerable to the health effects of chemical materials such as asbestos. 

India: Toxic Trade—An Asbestos Nightmare

• DVD
• ISBN 978-1-62290-219-4
• Run Time (26 Minutes)
• Copyright 2011
• Closed Captioned (CC)