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Canada blocks asbestos listing

chryotile.jpgChrysotile asbestos has been left off the list of hazardous substances in the Rotterdam Convention yet again, largely thanks to Canadian objection to the move at the Convention’s meeting last week in Geneva, Switzerland.

The Rotterdam Convention was established in 1998 to help regulate international trade in substances including other forms of asbestos, PCBs and lead-laced gasoline additives. Signatories have discussed adding Chrysotile, the most common type of asbestos minerals, to the Convention’s list since at least 2006. The material can be used in some concretes and asphalts, but is a recognized carcinogen: like other forms of asbestos, it can cause lung cancer in those who breathe in the fibres.

The Rotterdam Convention doesn’t ban materials from trade, but rather insists that nations agree to and abide by standard measures of safe usage when importing the listed hazardous compounds. According to this Canadian national newspaper article, the restrictions would amount to a five-page form of informed consent.

A handful of nations with economic interests in asbestos have opposed the listing in the past. At this year’s meeting on 20-24 June, many of those previous objectors -– including the major importer, India -– changed their minds, at a critical point leaving only Canada blocking consent. By the time the vote came in, several other nations had joined the Canadian stance.

Canada reportedly makes $90 million a year from chrysotile exports. The Canadian Medical Association and Nature, amongst others, have called for an end to chrysotile use and export.

Canada has received increasing amounts of criticism from those worried about the safety of both people and the planet in recent years, thanks to the blocking of climate change negotiations, the development of their tar sands, and more.

Photo: CDC

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