After several decades of criticism from the international community, the Canadian government is finally stopping its unconscionable defense of the asbestos mining industry. Long an exporter of asbestos, the mineral responsible for diseases like asbestosis and mesothelioma, Canada is undergoing a change of heart as the reins of government are shifted to the Parti Québécois, led by Canada’s first female Premier, Pauline Marois.

Marois Behind New Direction on Asbestos

During her campaign, Premier Marois promised to revoke a government loan that would have allowed the Jeffrey asbestos mine in Asbestos, Quebec to restart activities. Instead of the government loan going towards dangerous asbestos mining, the government will now give communities formerly dependent on asbestos mining up to $50 million to encourage the development of other, safer industries. Quebec was the last province in Canada still exporting asbestos to other countries.

Canada’s Decision Potentially Reduces International Asbestos Use

Families of victims of mesothelioma and other anti-asbestos activists are pleased with Quebec’s announcement. Not only does the decision mean that fewer Canadian workers and their families will be exposed to asbestos, but workers internationally will also benefit from less asbestos exposure. This is because Canada has frequently blocked attempts to add chrysotile asbestos to the Rotterdam Convention, a U.N. treaty that tracks hazardous substances. With its new posture on asbestos mining, it’s unlikely that Canada will continue to try to prevent the addition of the known dangerous substance asbestos to the list.

However, while Canada is publicly changing their stance on asbestos, there are still other countries in the world that allow asbestos export and its use in manufacturing, ignoring the proven fact that asbestos is hazardous to human health and the only cause of mesothelioma, a devastating and terminal disease. The law offices of Clapper, Patti, Schweizer, and Mason fight against the irresponsible use of asbestos by representing victims of asbestos exposure and their families. To learn more about what we do and how we may be able to help you, call us toll free at 1-800-440-4262.

In an highly anticipated announcement on the eve of the 11th anniversary of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health said that first responders, emergency workers, volunteers and residents who worked in or lived around the smoldering wreckage will now be able to receive treatment for diseases contracted from exposure to the toxic wreckage.

14 types of cancer, including mesothelioma, linked to 9/11 attacks at Ground Zero and the Pentagon, are now covered under the Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act.

For years, many first responders and survivors of the 9/11 terrorist attacks claimed that exposure to the toxic material, which included asbestos, lead, mold, jet fuel, diesel, heating oil, pesticides and cement particles caused them to develop serious, oftentimes life-threatening medical conditions.

Essentially, everything that comprised of either the buildings or aircraft were virtually pulverized, leading to an exceptional amount of solid materials becoming airborne. This such transformation created a toxic dust cloud that was breathed in by first responders, area residents and other survivors.

Many of the toxins released into the air when the aircraft slammed into the Twin Towers and the Pentagon are known carcinogens – such as asbestos – and also have a well-documented link to certain diseases. Exposure to asbestos is linked to later development of mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer that affects the delicate lining or pleura of the lungs, heart or abdominal cavity.

For victims and their loved ones, adding cancer to the Zagroda Act is a long awaited victory. Lung, colorectal, breast, bladder, leukemias and melanoma cancers will now be covered by the Zagroda Act. Further, all childhood cancers resulting from the 9/11 attacks will be covered by the Act.

The reason why many types of cancers were not initially included in the Zagroda Act was that the time difference between the exposure to the toxic dust cloud generated during 9/11 to the time the first symptoms of cancer may appear can take many years. However, the 9/11 cancer link is officially acknowledged by the federal government.

According to a Reuters report, the terrorist attacks of 9/11 have resulted in nearly 1,000 deaths related to the wreckage.

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