Dramatic Increase of Asbestos-Related Deaths in Canada

December 12, 2006 - A recently released study, Five Deaths a Day: Workplace Fatalities in Canada, 1993-2005, found that workplace fatalities in Canada are climbing. Most of the increase is caused by asbestos exposure.

In 2004, there were a total of 958 workplace-related fatalities in Canada. That number increased to 1,097 in 2005. Of the 1,097 workplace-related fatalities, 340 of the fatalities were asbestos-related. This is a considerable increase in asbestos-related deaths as there were less than 60 asbestos-related deaths a decade earlier, according to the study.

Inhalation and ingestion of asbestos dust and fibers can lead to mesothelioma, asbestosis, pleural plaques, and lung cancer. The Canadian Cancer Society has stated that Canada is in the middle of an "epidemic of work-related mesothelioma cases."

Canada is one of the largest miners and exporters of asbestos in the world, despite the fact that some countries have banned the use of asbestos in all or most products. The use of asbestos in the United States is not banned. Most of the mining of asbestos in Canada occurs in Quebec.

The tremendous increase in asbestos disease is, unfortunately, not limited to Canada. The International Labour Organization reports that 100,000 workers die each year from asbestos-related diseases. Automobile mechanics, construction workers, insulators, workers in trades and transport industries are just a few of the occupations that have suffered from diseases related to asbestos.

Five deaths a day: Workplace fatalities in Canada, 1993-2005 also reports that asbestos-related deaths are not expected to peak until 2010 to 2020. The report notes that symptoms may not appear until 20 to 50 years after exposure to asbestos.

Five deaths a day: Workplace fatalities in Canada, 1993-2005, was a study conducted by the Ottawa-based non-profit organization, Centre for Study of Living Standards.

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