![\"Asbestos](\"http:\/\/www.assuranceenvironmental.ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/How-Health-Canadas-Asbestos-Advice-Has-Changed.jpg\")
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After complaints from healthcare officials, Health Canada has updated the information it provides to Canadians about the risks of asbestos<\/a>, conceding that any exposure to the substance in any of its forms is dangerous, stating that any amount of asbestos inhalation can lead to “cancer and other diseases.<\/a>”<\/p>\n Previously, the website used to state that asbestos can cause lung scarring when inhaled in “significant quantities,” and that the risk depended on how often and how long someone was exposed. Further, the site no longer states that chrysotile — the type of asbestos mined in Canada for decades \u2013 does less health damage than other types.<\/p>\n Describing chrysotile as being safer than other types of asbestos was a danger to public health, Director of UofT\u2019s Occupational Cancer Research Centre, Paul Demers said. \u201cIt\u2019s very important, because when a member of the public encounters asbestos<\/a>, they don\u2019t actually even know what kind of asbestos it is,\u201d he said. \u201cYou have to treat all asbestos alike and equally hazardous in order to prevent disease.\u201d<\/p>\n The changes come more than two years after the federal government announced it would no longer oppose international efforts to list chrysotile as a hazardous material. While that was seen as a landmark decision, since 2012, Health Canada’s website had not changed or been updated to note the government’s new position. The contentious lines have now been expunged from the website, reflecting the position held by medical bodies around the world that there is no safe amount of asbestos ingestion.<\/p>\n Demers applauded the decision, telling CTV News Channel<\/a>: \u201cI think it\u2019s a very positive move by Health Canada, recognizing that all forms of asbestos cause cancer (and) lung disease.\u201d Ian Culbert, executive director of The Canadian Public Health Association said in a statement<\/a>: \u00a0“We are relieved that Canada is beginning to fulfill its moral obligation, by recognizing the well-grounded evidence, to publicly acknowledge that breathing in asbestos fibres can cause cancer and other diseases. The Government of Canada has made a good ‘public health’ decision.”<\/p>\n Asbestos was once used widely as insulation, to fireproof buildings and homes, and to strengthen materials and make them fire-resistant. But its fibres can be easily inhaled and carried into the lower regions of the lung where they can cause a scarring condition called asbestosis, which increases the risk of lung cancer and mesothelioma.<\/p>\n The World Health Organization says that all types of asbestos can cause lung and throat cancers, and estimates that 125 million people are still exposed to the mineral in the workplace, with an estimated 107,000 people dying each year globally from asbestos-related disease.<\/p>\n If you suspect that you house might have asbestos, you\u2019re going to need professional help. Dealing with asbestos needs to be done properly, and there is no way to cut corners.<\/span><\/p>\n At Assurance Environmental Inspection Services, we have helped countless homeowners accurately <\/span>identify whether they have asbestos<\/span><\/a>, which in turn leads to asbestos removal recommendations. \u00a0Our certified asbestos specialists will use state-of-the-art technology to properly detect and identify presumed asbestos containing material in your home, so you can confidently renovate and\/or resell your home. \u00a0<\/span>Request a quote<\/span><\/a>, and gain peace of mind (and a healthier home).<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" After complaints from healthcare officials, Health Canada has updated the information it provides to Canadians about the risks of asbestos, conceding that any exposure to the substance in any of its forms is dangerous, stating that any amount of asbestos … Read More All Types of Asbestos are Dangerous<\/h2>\n
The Right Move<\/h2>\n
Are You Concerned That Your Home Has Asbestos?<\/h2>\n