Canada’s Hypocritical Policy on Asbestos

PT EXCLUSIVE

by Eric Stevenson

Although asbestos was once considered one of the most highly used and versatile building materials, it’s now seen as one of the most highly dangerous fibers to people and the environment. It was first mined in Canada and the United States back in the late 1800's and went on to be a major export for both countries. After developing a number of respiratory issues, many miners were starting to be diagnosed with diseases such as mesothelioma, lung cancer, and asbestosis.

Following a set of research it was found that asbestos exposure was in direct correlation with a number of these health issues. The exposure involved infection to the chest and abdomen area, within the lining of the body organs. For many patients of diseases like mesothelioma, diagnosis doesn’t come until later years, following a long latency period. Mesothelioma life expectancy is considerably short and severe, with an average of around a year after diagnosis.

Although asbestos is revered with disdain for its health risks, Canada continues to mine the fiber these days. Being one of the largest exporters of asbestos, Canada has often been trying to improve its image for a while now. Although lawsuits and litigation soon became involved with many businesses who used asbestos, having the fiber banned was still hard. The US was even unable to ban the material.

While the World Health Organization and European Union countries have taken the opportunity to ban asbestos, Canada has chosen a different route. Many within the country still continue the fight to promote use of asbestos, in a controlled state. The country has even worked to keep the mineral off the list of dangerous substances from the U.N.

While a number of business owners may support the use of asbestos in Canada, much of the medical community in the country are particularly sickened with the exporting process. They see the exporting of the material as hypocritical, seeing as asbestos is recognized as a hazardous substance within the country.

Possibly the worst aspect of the situation is that the countries Canada exports these fibers to are poor and developing areas. This includes a number of places that have little to no resources to deal with some of the effects of asbestos exposure. It’s unfortunate that these countries are forced to deal with exposure and the after effects, while not having the proper medical staff and resources to respond in the right way.

Through a number of different media outlets, Canada has certainly taken a great amount of criticism for their stance on asbestos. Even with the criticism, it’s hard to see exporting of this material stopped in the near future. Exported asbestos accounts for 95 percent of the total amount mined in the country; therefore asbestos is clearly going out to make a profit. Canada is currently regarded as the largest Western asbestos exporter, ranking fourth overall for mining the material.

Even with members of the medical community and media backlash, it’s fairly obvious that there’s a very large group behind the profitability and use of asbestos continuing on. With its direct relation to health problems and the controversy involving it’s use, it would be in the best interest to end the exporting of the material some time soon. The fact that asbestos is continually removed and looked down on in Canada, while still being exported to other countries, is an extremely hypocritical policy.

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