The Sibaté Asbestos‑Cement Facility Case Study: Reconstructing the Production Process to Assess Occupational and Environmental Impacts

Background: Despite hosting one of the largest asbestos industries in Latin America, Colombia lacked adequate environmental and occupational surveillance, hindering a full understanding of its operations and impacts. The first asbestos‑processing facility began operations in the municipality of Sibaté in 1942, where the first cluster of malignant pleural mesothelioma was recently identified. Areas containing friable asbestos waste have also been documented within the urban zone. Objectives: This study aimed to develop and apply a structured approach to (i) reconstruct historical production practices and operational conditions under which workers may have been exposed to asbestos and (ii) identify potential environmental pathways through which asbestos may have been released from the facility into the surrounding environment. Methods: Thirteen former workers were interviewed to reconstruct key production processes, including handling and disposal of raw asbestos and asbestos‑containing materials. In parallel, environmental surveillance records from the regional environmental authority for 1980–2019 were reviewed to identify documented environmental management and monitoring practices. Results: Findings identified operational stages and waste‑management practices that may have provided potential pathways for asbestos release, including wastewater discharges, sludge disposal, and landfilling in Sibaté and nearby municipalities. Environmental records began only in 1980, leaving the facility’s first 38 years of operation (1942–1979) without documented environmental oversight, and included no asbestos‑specific monitoring or quantitative exposure data. Conclusions: The Sibaté case shows how asbestos risks persist beyond industrial boundaries, while this study provides a practical framework for countries facing similar surveillance limitations. Findings highlight the need for transparent data, sustained environmental surveillance, and comprehensive remediation to address the long‑term environmental and public health consequences of asbestos‑contaminated sites.