According to recent reports, asbestos exposure kills more workers in Quebec than any other cause. This year alone 61 out of 104 workers who have died due to work-related causes in Quebec province have lost their lives to asbestos-related illnesses.
The worker’s compensation board of Canada also reports that deaths from asbestos exposure, mainly due to the development of mesothelioma, have increased in this portion of the country by 67% over the last 15 years. All of this news is quite alarming and unsettling seeing as much like America, Canada made it illegal to be using asbestos in building materials decades ago.
Quebec reportedly has a “zero tolerance” policy in terms of asbestos exposure. This policy was put in place years ago when it was discovered that asbestos is linked to several lung-related illnesses and cancers. However, the French-province of Quebec and Canada as a whole have recently been criticized when it was found that they export 175,000 metric tons a year of chrysotile, which is a form of asbestos. This cancerous substance is reportedly exported to poor countries and Quebec has become known for having the country’s only existing asbestos mine.
Ban on Asbestos Put in Question
As in the United States, asbestos was banned in Canada during the late 1970s, but it can still be found in old buildings and homes. Asbestos exposure is known to cause the rare form of cancer known as mesothelioma, as well as other diseases. Second-hand exposure has also proven to be harmful. This mean employees who work with and around asbestos can bring asbestos fibers home on their clothing or in their hair, and unknowingly expose family members.
No cure has been found for mesothelioma or many of the other health related issues that can come from asbestos exposure, but taking preventative steps and knowledge about the risks can help assure you that exposure will be avoided.
