How can Quebec Continue to Export Asbestos?
For decades now it has been known that asbestos causes serious diseases, such as mesothelioma, asbestosis and lung cancer. This is not opinion or fear, but scientific fact, medically validated with unquestionable evidence. And yet Quebec still continues to mine, manufacture and export the toxic substance.
Of course, most of the asbestos is sent off to foreign countries that do not have the regulations that exist in other more developed regions of the world – countries where no warnings nor protection are given to those likely to be exposed. Quebec itself rarely uses the deadly mineral locally, however profits from the $100,000 million plus dollar a year industry.
Numerous appeals and protests have been made to Premier Jean Charest to ban the mining and exportation of asbestos. Scientists and anti-asbestos groups from around the globe have presented solid evidence of the dangers of asbestos and continue to campaign for discontinued use.
Labor, public health, environmental and human rights groups are joined by scientific and medical experts as well as concerned public in efforts to ban use of all types of asbestos worldwide. The Canadian Medical Association voted almost unanimously to eliminate the use and exportation of asbestos, which from Quebec is mostly chrysotile asbestos.
There is no “responsible use” of asbestos, especially when it is being sent to countries where workers and citizens are given no warning, training or protection. There are no safe levels of exposure to asbestos. A single airborne fiber can be inhaled and ingested into the body and years later cause a painful, agonizing cancer known as mesothelioma.
There is no known cure for mesothelioma and most patients diagnosed with malignant pleural mesothelioma, the most common form, die within a year of diagnosis. Furthermore, treatments for mesothelioma have not been very effective despite ongoing research and improvements.
It is unconscionable that in 2010, when the dangers of asbestos are clearly established, that a industrialized, developed country would continue to export to other parts or the world, knowing that they will cause death to thousands every year.
As mesothelioma attorneys who specialize in handling only asbestos lawsuits, we see first hand the devastation, heartbreak and pain experienced by those diagnosed with mesothelioma. Perhaps if the officials in Quebec could sit by the bedside of those who worked hard their whole lives only to lose all opportunity to enjoy their later years due to a cancer that could have easily been avoided, they would act differently. Our mesothelioma law firm is dedicated to the well being of our clients, and we support all efforts to ban the mining and use of asbestos.
