Natural+Resources+-+Québec

= What You Need to Know about Asbestos =

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 * //Kim, Jess, Emlyn Pro Asbestos PSA//**

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 * //Cassidy, Hayley, Marie, Natalie Con Asbestos PSA//**

Asbestos is a naturally occuring heat-resistant fibrous silicate mineral that can be woven into fabrics, and was a commonly used building material from 1950 to 1990.
 * What is Asbestos?**

Asbestos is found in varying rocks, mostly serpentines and amphiboles. These types of rock are found in California, Colorado and Canada. Asbestos is used in some household things like drywall, insulation, vinyl flooring, certain fabric [usually curtains]. Asbestos is mined by grinding and shattering the rock types. The rocks are mined using a pit mining system and helps the economy by creating revenue and jobs. Some risks are the development of health problems with either people who come into close contact with asbestos or mine it. Asbestos is a naturally occuring heat-resistant fibrous silicate mineral that can be woven into fabrics, and was a commonly used building material from 1950 to 1990.
 * [[image:http://www.ehs.sfu.ca:8666/uploaded/images/Safety%20Mgmt/Asbestos-blue.jpg width="288" height="239" align="left" caption="http://www.ehs.sfu.ca:8666/uploaded/images/Safety%20Mgmt/Asbestos-blue.jpg"]]How is it extracted? Used? What are the benefits/risks?**

A main supplier in Canada is the Jeffrey Mine, the largest asbestos mine in the entire world, found in the town of Asbestos, Quebec. Still in use due to the wide number of jobs the Jeffrey Mine creates, Canada is the prime supplier of asbestos for the entire world. Currently, the owner of the mine is JM Asbestos Inc and the prime stakeholders are those that work at the mine, second only to the countries and people who benefit from the production.
 * Who are the stakeholders in the area?**

Peter Kent, Minister of the Environment in Canada, monitors the production of asbestos in regards to how it is environmentally. In Quebec, the overseer of the Jeffrey Mine is Bernard Coulombe and the environment minister in charge of Quebec and its safety regarding environment-related things is Pauline Marois.
 * Which branch of government is overseeing this development? Who is the MLA/MLP in the area?**

It is no longer being currently developed in Canada, though in the past it certainly was. Even though the largest Asbestos developer was in England (Turner and Newall) Quebec also had a few Asbestos producing companies, the most prominent of which was probably also the longest continuing mine, run under the name of “Jeffrey”. In 2011 the government of Quebec wrote a fifty seven million dollar loan to Indian investors to complete the construction of an underground mine. This company exported almost solely to third world countries that do not have the same health and safety regulations that Canada has.
 * Which company/government agency is developing the resource?**

Asbestos means "inextinguishable," and was named this by the Ancient Greeks, who began using it 2000 years ago. The Greeks were first to realize how harmful it is. Slaves that wove asbestos into cloth were noticed to develop a sickness in the lungs, but since asbestos was so useful, they disregarded the symptoms. Asbestos was used less in the Middle Ages but came back during the Industrial Revolution. It was used for the insulation of high temperature products, such as ovens and steam pipes. Previous discoveries about the negative affects asbestos could have on someone's health might have been forgotten or simply ignored. In the late 1920s and early 1930s the health risks of asbestos exposure were once again realized. In spite of this, they continued to be ignored by some since the alternatives to the use of asbestos were less profitable.
 * What is the history of asbestos?**

Asbestos is extremely heat resistant, which makes it desirable for many products including: insulation, fire-fighter uniforms, and engine brakes.
 * Pros:**
 * Diverse:** Can be used in fabrics, building insulation coffee pots and much more.
 * Availability:** As Canadians we naturally have relatively convenient access to asbestos, especially in Quebec.

Asbestos fibers when released through disturbance can enter into the human lungs and cause lung cells to become stiff and rigid. This fibers can stay in the lung cells for many years before it becomes noticable. Some of the effects of Asbestos are: > **L****ung cancer:** Cases of asbestos fibres becoming lodged in the lungs is common with people who have had a lot of exposure to asbestos, and is known to cause lung cancer. > **Asbestosis:** This is a lung disease caused by exposure to asbestos
 * Cons:**


 * Alternatives:**
 * Fibreglass
 * Wood
 * Carbon Fibre
 * Vermiculite
 * Polymer
 * Basalt
 * Aerogel

Google Doc: https://docs.google.com/document/d/11G9phm2GOMMKrvlMDieW7tCbNXkImpyM422vZcT4ppc/edit

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