Canada accused of hypocrisy over asbestos exports

Our plain-English summary of Canada accused of hypocrisy over asbestos exports, by T. Kirby (Lancet, 2010).

The study

• Author: T. Kirby
• Journal: Lancet
• Published: 2010;376(9757):1973-4
• Type of article: News
• Cited by: 8 articles, as counted by NIH iCite
• Read it: PubMed · Publisher

In plain English

This was a news report by Tony Kirby in The Lancet, not a research study. It described criticism of Canada for exporting chrysotile (white asbestos) despite a de-facto ban at home. It stated that Canada shipped about 150 000 tonnes yearly to developing countries such as India, Indonesia and the Philippines. It cited a WHO estimate that about 125 million people were exposed to asbestos at work, and stated that more than 107 000 died each year from asbestos-related lung cancer, mesothelioma and asbestosis resulting from occupational exposures. It reported mesothelioma deaths rising in the UK from 895 in 1990 to 2249 in 2008, and in Canada from 153 in 1984 to 386 in 2007, noting a journal's caution that Canadian cases were likely underestimated. It described a bid to reopen a Quebec mine at up to 260 000 tonnes yearly, and a US$57 million loan guarantee the Quebec Government was considering. It quoted campaigners, the Canadian Medical Association and WHO opposing asbestos. A Canadian minister confirmed the government's position that chrysotile risks could be managed under controlled conditions.

We wrote this plain-English summary from the full article with the help of AI, and a second AI model checked each sentence against the article. It is not the authors' wording; the abstract and the article are their own account.

What the study did and found

• Design: news report (Lancet World Report); no original research
• Who was studied: No study population; the report concerned Canada's chrysotile exports to developing countries such as India, Indonesia and the Philippines, as of December 2010
• Exposure: Chrysotile (white asbestos) mined in Quebec and exported by Canada
• Main results:
  • The report cited a WHO estimate that about 125 million people worldwide were exposed to asbestos in the workplace
  • More than 107 000 people were reported to die each year from asbestos-related lung cancer, mesothelioma and asbestosis resulting from occupational exposures
  • Mesothelioma deaths in the UK were reported to have risen from 895 in 1990 to 2249 in 2008
  • Mesothelioma deaths in Canada were reported to have risen from 153 in 1984 to 386 in 2007
  • The report quoted the Canadian Medical Association Journal as saying the number of Canadian mesothelioma cases is likely underestimated
  • Canada was reported to have a de-facto ban on asbestos use at home while exporting about 150 000 tonnes of chrysotile per year
  • Canada was reported to have vetoed including chrysotile in the Rotterdam Convention
  • A proposed mine reopening would raise yearly output to a maximum of 260 000 tonnes (around 10% of global production). The Quebec Government was considering a US$57 million loan guarantee.
  • A WHO director was quoted as saying all forms of asbestos are carcinogenic to humans
  • Canada's Natural Resources Minister was reported to have confirmed the government's position that chrysotile risks can be managed under controlled conditions
• The authors' conclusion: The report stated no conclusion of the author's own. It ended by quoting campaigner Kathleen Ruff that the Quebec Government could still deny the loan guarantee.

Topics

The National Library of Medicine indexes this study under subjects our site covers: Chrysotile, Lung cancer, Mesothelioma.

Related studies

• Ban all production and export of chrysotile asbestos — G. Paradis (2010)
• Canada and France fall out over the risks of asbestos — D. Butler, D. Spurgeon (1997)
• Asbestos-related morbidity in India — T.K. Joshi, R.K. Gupta (2003)
• Health advocates assail Canada's asbestos stance — R. Collier (2008)
• Canadian hypocrisy regarding chrysotile — J. Bridle, J. Hoskins (2011)
• Quebec stands firm on asbestos exports despite growing controversy — L. Eggertson (2010)

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