Anti-Asbestos Group Pleads to Stop Export

Anti-Asbestos Group Pleads to End Export (January 28, 2011) Reports said Friday that an anti-asbestos group in Canada encouraged Quebec authorities to stop supporting asbestos exports to India. Opposition chief Michael Ignatieff said in a statement that Canada must finish exporting asbestos, a poisonous material commonly used for manufacturing materials such as roofing shingles, ceiling, floor tiles and cement products because of its fire-retardant and insulation properties. Current studies cautioned that when asbestos-containing materials are damaged or disturbed, microscopic fibers will become airborne and can be inhaled into the lungs, causing significant well-being problems attributed to the toxic substance. In accordance with anti-asbestos campaigners, Balcorp spokesperson, Guy Versailles, announced Thursday they will join a mission to India next week to promote safe use of asbestos. Balcorp is a company engaged in international trade and marketing. On Thursday, Versailles mentioned they will encourage Indian companies to import their asbestos from Quebec and generate revenue for the provincial economy. He added that it will make it easier for other asbestos companies to export their products. Kathleen Ruff of the anti-asbestos group from Rideau Institute believed it will be impossible to regulate safe use of asbestos throughout India because working conditions are so bad. She said that when the asbestos cement products are dispersed, villagers will be put at great risk posing significant health problems attributed to asbestos exposure. Studies showed that long exposure to high concentrations of asbestos fibers caused diseases such as asbestosis, lung cancer and malignant mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that affects the protective lining covering the internal body organs. Meanwhile, Ignatieff said that it will be crucial for the Canadian federal government to assist asbestos workers find employment in another industry. Balcorp, on the other hand, said they are considering paying for routine inspections in India to make sure the workers are protected from possible health problems.

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