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Background South Africa's export of each of its three types of asbestos, crocidolite, amosite, and chrysotile, and the total amounts to 84 countries in metric tonnes is examined over a 24-year period, 1980–2003. Methods For convenience, the countries are divided into nine world regional groups, Europe, Eastern Europe, North America with the Caribbean, South America, Africa, Middle East, Far East, South Asia, and Oceania. Results The three greatest importing countries of total asbestos in metric tonnes were all in the Far East region, ranging from Japan, South Korea to Thailand, and followed by USA and Italy. All exports to all countries diminished steadily as the South African trade came virtually to an end by 2003, due to ever increasing international pressure. Conclusion The export trade has changed significantly since 1960 from being dominantly to European countries to being directed in recent years to the Far East, with serious implications for asbestos-related ill-health in those countries. Am. J. Ind. Med. 53:524–534, 2010. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Item Type:	Refereed Article
Keywords:	South African asbestos exports; crocidolite; chrysotile; destinations 1980-2003
Research Division:	Human Society
Research Group:	Human geography
Research Field:	Economic geography
Objective Division:	Economic Framework
Objective Group:	Macroeconomics
Objective Field:	Macro labour market issues
UTAS Author:	McGlashan, ND (Dr Neil McGlashan)
UTAS Author:	Chelkowska, EZ (Dr Elzbieta Chelkowska)
ID Code:	65339
Year Published:	2010
Web of Science® Times Cited:	5
Deposited By:	Geography and Environmental Studies
Deposited On:	2010-11-03
Last Modified:	2011-03-28
Downloads:	0