Government Advisory Committee on Cancer Conclude:
Children are at greater risk from exposure to asbestos
The World Health Organization lists asbestos as a human carcinogen linked to lung cancer. Children are particularly vulnerable to asbestos because their lungs are still developing and they breathe more air per pound of body weight than an adult.
The BBC recently ran a story regarding asbestos in schools and how the evidence, provided by a special committee concluded that the asbestos risk to children is greater over a lifetime. The committee found that a 5-year old is 5-times more likely than an adult of 30 to develop mesothelioma, a type of cancer linked to asbestos.
Asbestos in Schools
Asbestos has been used for decades in schools throughout Canada in the building of roofs, walls, shingles, floors, vinyl floors, adhesives, insulation and many other building & construction products. It is known to have been used in over 3,000 building products. Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral fiber that is highly heat resistant and very strong. These make it ideal for construction projects, especially since it is also light weight.
It is easy to turn asbestos into a deadly, fibrous powder and that is where the danger comes in. When asbestos dust is inhaled into the lungs, it causes serious damage. Sometimes that damage leads to lung disease, and often it causes mesothelioma, a particular type of cancer that affects the lining of the lungs.
Over the history of asbestos use, the most likely individuals to contract diseases due to asbestos exposure are people who work in construction. Whether working to build buildings or working in asbestos removal, inhaling particulates is very dangerous to health. Before the effects of asbestos were known, construction workers often came home covered in asbestos dust, causing unknown risk to their families as well.
Enviro-Vac Asbestos Abatement Removal Services
Fortunately, the problems associated with asbestos are now well known. We at Enviro-Vac are dedicated to providing a safe solution for as long as those problems continue to endanger the lives of Canadians.
Safety First
Protecting workers and the environment is a top priority at Enviro-Vac. Abatement workers wear a sophisticated system of personnel protective equipment [PPE]. Air levels are sampled daily and analysed to ensure maximum protection to workers and the surrounding building and/or occupants. Our safety training procedures are extensive and on-going.
