Government officials from around the world met in Hong Kong yesterday to discuss how the make the process of recycling aging ships more environmentally friendly, and how to best protect people all over the world from asbestos and other deadly carcinogens that can often be released during that process.

Critics of the conference have argued that the proposals brought forth at the meeting would fail to limit pollution and would do little to protect workers in the industry.

The five-day meeting in Hong Kong aims to have many countries reach an accord regarding the international rules governing the ship breaking industry. This industry occurs all over the world, but some of the most egregious violations are occurring in South Asia, where unsafe practices kill many workers each year. As a result of ship breaking and so-called ship recycling, beaches in the area are constantly being contaminated by oil, asbestos, PCBs, and other chemicals.

Critics of the convention argue that the measures proposed by delegates at the meeting are unlikely to take effect, as there is no solid system in place to enforce the regulations.

Many older ships contain a great deal of asbestos, located in boilers, pipes, and even the hulls of aging ships. As a ship ages, asbestos products often become brittle and friable, and the likelihood that asbestos fibers will be released is high. Asbestos exposure is linked to the eventual development of various cancers, including pleural mesothelioma.

Greenpeace and other environmental groups have estimated that 50 to 60 workers die each year in the shipyards of India and Bangladesh. Hundreds more are injured or sickened from work-related exposure to toxic substances ranging from asbestos to mercury.

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