Asbestos Still a Contentious Issue in Canada
The Canadian province of Quebec is home to the country’s last remaining asbestos mines, despite the known health risks such as mesothelioma that are connected to asbestos exposure. Mesothelioma, a rare kind of cancer, affects thousands of new victims each year all over the world. When ingested or inhaled, asbestos fibers can lead to the manifestation of mesothelioma cancer in the lungs, abdomen, or even the lining of the heart.
This cancer can take decades to develop, but once symptoms emerge, patients often survive only a few months. An estimated 90,000 people die every year from asbestos-related lung cancer, mesothelioma and asbestosis according to the World Health Organization.
Now, British Columbia MP Nathan Cullen has introduced a bill that would ban the mining and sale of asbestos in Canada. In Quebec, a total of 7,000 workers are employed as miners, with asbestos mining being only a portion of that figure.
Total public expenditures on the asbestos mining industry were $107.7 million in 2002. The World Health Organization has condemned the use of chrysotile asbestos, the most commonly used type of asbestos. The U.S. surgeon general has also spoken out against this form of asbestos. Since asbestos was banned by the European Union in 2005, Canada has been forced to market asbestos products predominantly in the developing world, especially India, Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Brazil. These four countries import over $100-million worth of asbestos. Only time will tell if Mr. Cullen’s proposed ban will become a reality. If it does, it could potentially save thousands of lives.