Asbestos Exposure a Concern for Children

Calgary, CAJohn has been diagnosed with asbestosis and even though he is worried that it might lead to mesothelioma, that isn't his major concern. As a caring father, John is more concerned about his son who also has respiratory problems, possibly due to second-hand asbestos exposure.

In the 1950s, John worked with asbestos insulation in Montreal. "I insulated pipes for three years," he says. "I mixed asbestos cement and sealed pipe joints on big construction jobs for Bombardier and other big corporations."

John is now 72 years old and says he was in good shape until recently. And John admits that he smoked many years ago: "I thought I might as well join the crowd, but I quit 25 years ago.

"My health was fine but last year I wasn't feeling good; I was tired all the time and short of breath. I would have to sit down even walking a short distance and had to get a disabled sticker—I wasn't too proud of that.

It got to where I was getting scared. I had to get tests at a medical center in Alberta, and lived in a suitcase all summer because it was about 200 miles from my home. During that time, I saw a lung specialist. A few days later, he left a message on my phone and said I had asbestos lung with scarring. I wasn't expecting that.

Then it rang a bell. I told him about the three years I worked with asbestos insulation and he said 'that'll do it'.

Last November I saw my family doctor. 'What are you going to do about it?' I asked. If I was going to die, I wanted to know. But he couldn't help me.

Yesterday I saw a heart specialist and told him my symptoms. He put me on a treadmill for a stress test. Everything was fine with my heart, but he said I have to get a CAT Scan every year. I also had blood tests and everything is good; just my cholesterol is a bit high but apart from that, I am fine. I guess those tests don't tell you anything about your lungs.

I don't know what to do about the asbestosis because nobody has talked to me about any treatment. I wish somebody could give me an answer. I guess it is something in life I just have to go through. Back in the '50s nobody told you anything either.

Now I read about asbestos on the internet and the Canadian federal government gives the OK for the biggest asbestos mine in Quebec to sell their product to third world countries. I think it is terrible; little kids could be exposed to asbestos.

And your kids could get exposed to asbestos if you come home in your working clothes. We were never supplied with protective clothing or any safety equipment--no masks, nothing. My oldest son has a hard time breathing and has to wear an oxygen mask at night to sleep. He apparently has a lack of oxygen in his lungs but it hasn't been determined yet if his condition is linked to asbestos exposure. Now that I have read about other families exposed to asbestos by washing clothes together or even giving their kids a hug, I'm worried about my son.

He doesn't know yet about my diagnosis and I don't want to get him worried. But I have to sit down with him and recommend he gets the same tests—a CAT Scan of his lungs for sure.

Getting back to Canada, why haven't we banned asbestos? This really upsets me and it is a disgrace. Our country says it is OK to kill others by selling asbestos overseas. I guess the politicians in Quebec are more concerned about keeping asbestos miners' jobs than exposing innocent people to asbestos in third world countries. But maybe down the road our government might be sued by these countries who will soon realize they are being sold something that is killing them.

Meanwhile, I want to pursue a lawsuit against the companies that are slowly killing me."