http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=scienceNews&storyID=2006-10-13T222135Z_01_L13246343_RTRUKOC_0_US-ENVIRONMENT-ASBESTOS.xml&WTmodLoc=Home-C5-scienceNews-2GENEVA (Reuters) - Chrysotile asbestos, a known human carcinogen, will remain off a global "watch list" of toxic substances for at least two more years after countries led by Canada blocked consensus in United Nations talks on Friday.
While it is now rarely used in Western nations because of health concerns, asbestos remains common in developing world construction, mostly as an additive to cement.
Parties to the Rotterdam Convention, an international treaty governing trade in toxic substances, failed to agree to add chrysotile, which represents 94 percent of world asbestos consumption, to a list of more than 30 substances about which exporting countries must inform importers before shipping.
"The lack of a decision at this time to list chrysotile asbestos raises concerns for many developing countries that need to protect their citizens from the well-known risks of this hazardous substance," U.N. Environment Programme chief Achim Steiner said after the Geneva meeting.
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