Canadians Demand End to Asbestos Mining
0 Comments Posted on: June 3, 2008The Canadian Labor Congress is calling for a ban of all asbestos mining in Canada, even though a recent study on the cancer risks of asbestos has not yet been released. Seven scientific and medical experts, hired by Health Canada, submitted their report examining the link between asbestos and cancer in March. However, the report has yet to be released.
“Nothing in the report would argue against the sensibility of an asbestos ban in Canada,” Leslie Stayner, one of the report’s authors, told the Canadian Broadcast Corporation. It’s remarkable that Canadian officials would find a study on the ‘cancer risks’ of asbestos necessary in light of the flood of mesothelioma and asbestosis studies all over the world – and the plight of thousands of victims.
According to Canadian human resources trade publication, last weekend the labor organization passed a resolution on behalf of its members calling for an end to asbestos production, as well as financial support for roughly 700 miners who would be affected by an industry shutdown.
Canada’s only two asbestos mines are located in Quebec. The province has one of the highest rates of mesothelioma, a cancer connected with asbestos exposure, in the world. While asbestos has been banned in nearly every developed country and several developing nations, Canada still produces and exports asbestos to countries such as India, Indonesia and Pakistan for use in construction material.
A recent study in British Columbia showed a rise in mesothelioma cases among former construction workers who used asbestos for insulation and also showed the disease beginning to spike in the province. Apparently Canada has protected its populace from new asbestos products but is currently allowing shipment of the material to countries with less protection for their workers.
