Asbestos has historically been used for many construction applications and is found primarily in roofing, thermal and electrical insulation, cement pipe and sheets, flooring, gaskets, coatings, and other products. Asbestos cement (AC) became popular as a water pipe material in the 1940s. AC pipes are made of approximately 80 percent cement and 20 percent asbestos. An estimated 18 percent of water distribution pipes in Canada are constructed of AC. The possibility of exposure to workers and the public will continue to exist as long as asbestos is still present in older products, buildings and infrastructure.
Asbestos exposure has been linked to asbestosis, a number of cancers including lung cancer, pleural and peritoneal mesothelioma, cancer of the larynx and ovary. Evidence suggests it may also be linked to other cancers, such as colorectal, pharynx, and stomach cancers.
Authors to the Petition:
Cassidy Barnes, Law Intern; Fe de Leon, Researcher Canadian Environmental Law Association
Julian Branch and Meg Sears, Prevent Cancer Now.
Petition Calling for Examination of Federal Asbestos Regulation and Asbestos Cement Pipes
CELA and Prevent Cancer Now submitted a petition to the Federal Commissioner of Environment and Sustainable Development to seek a response from Environment and Climate Change Canada, Health Canada, and other federal departments that address asbestos waste. The purpose of this petition is to examine whether harm to Canadian health is effectively prevented under the current regulation of asbestos and cement pipes containing asbestos.
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