Dangerous Products – Asbestos

Asbestos is a toxic substance that is used in construction and for various chemical purposes.  The history of this chemical is very interesting and controversial, especially for Canada which is one of the leading manufacturers of this chemical worldwide. Asbestos became widely used in the late 19th century by manufacturers and builders. Because of its resistance to heat, electricity and chemical damage, its sound absorption and tensile strength it was used in buildings, cloth, fire retardant coatings, concrete, bricks, pipes and fireplace cement, heat, fire, and acid resistant gaskets, pipe insulation, ceiling insulation, fireproof drywall, flooring, roofing, lawn furniture, drywall joint compound and even electric oven and hotplate wiring.  Until the mid 1980th when it was proven that asbestos leads to serious illnesses, like malignant mesothelioma, lung cancer, and asbestosis (a type of pneumoconiosis).

 

1906 was the year when the first asbestos related death occurred, but even before that researchers noticed a large number of early deaths and lung problems in asbestos mining towns. If we look deeper into history even the ancient Greeks observed that slaves that wore asbestos clothing had lung problems. In 1924 in England, the first country which recognized problems with asbestos, the doctors made the first asbestosis proven diagnosis was made. England was also the first country to include regulated ventilation and made asbestosis an excusable work related disease, in the 1930th, ten years prior to the United States. The term Mesothelioma also came to medical literature in 1931 and became associated with asbestos in the 1940th. The usage of asbestos was truly horrific. From 1952 to 1956 the first filtered cigarette on the market – Kent, used crocidolite asbestos in its "Micronite" filter. During the World War II thousands of tons of asbestos were used to wrap the pipes, line the boilers, and cover engine and turbine parts. This lead to a huge number of asbestos related illnesses among the dock workers. United States is the leading country in the asbestos casualties they reach approximately 100,000 people deceased and unknown number with terminal illnesses at the current moment.

 

France was the first country to ban the use of asbestos in 1997 and called for a worldwide ban, it 2000 Frances ban was upheld by the World Trade Organization. Canada has its own special relations with asbestos. The only asbestos mines operating in Canada today are in the Province of Quebec and are owned by the Quebec government. Right now Quebec is the second largest producer in the world behind Russia and the world's largest exporter of asbestos (mostly to Asian countries). Banning of this substance is economically important for whole country and in 1999 the representatives of the Canadian government went before the World Trade Organization to challenge the ban of asbestos, still this initiative was not supported. Today this chemical is banned in 60 countries in whole or in part. As for the status of Asbestos in Canada it is illegal to sell it in the country, still mining and exporting of asbestos is legal.

 

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