A report released by The Ministry of Labour and The Ministry of the Environment in Canada states that “one-time exposure to asbestos” is “unlikely” to increase a person’s risk of developing asbestos cancer, also known as mesothelioma.
According to the report, experts based in Toronto, Ontario claim that “you are allowed to breathe in tens of thousands if not hundreds of thousands of [asbestos] fibers a day and your chances of getting cancer are next to none.”
The report comes as a result of an explosion at the Sunrise Propane plant in Toronto on August 17th. Experts have yet to determine whether or not there are high levels of asbestos present in the air surrounding the blast site, but stated that “there is no data” to prove that “one-time exposure” to even high levels of asbestos will cause cancer.
“Nobody really knows if that kind of exposure would lead to cancer,” said Professor Paul Bozek of the University of Toronto’s School of Public Health.
Despite these claims it is important to understand that asbestos exposure is the only known cause of mesothelioma cancer, a fatal disease that attacks the lungs and presently has no known cure. Mesothelioma has a latent period of between twenty and fifty years, so it is often difficult to pinpoint the actual time and location of exposure. However, individuals who are exposed to high levels of asbestos and subsequently inhale airborne asbestos fibers are considered to be at an increased risk of one day developing mesothelioma cancer.
The Mesothelioma & Asbestos Awareness Center urges individuals to take the necessary precautions even when exposed to what may be low levels of asbestos fibers. A mask that adequately covers the nose and mouth will prevent inhalation, and proper ventilation in any area that may be harboring asbestos is crucial, as it prevents asbestos fibers from settling.
If at all possible is advisable to avoid areas that may contain friable asbestos at all costs. Mesothelioma is 100% fatal, but it is also 100% preventable. Avoiding asbestos exposure is the only means of lessening the risk of developing this disease.
The Mesothelioma & Asbestos Awareness Center is the web’s foremost resource for information related to occupational asbestos exposure, mesothelioma, mesothelioma treatment methods and more. Please visit the Mesothelioma & Asbestos Awareness Center for further information.
