Asbestos is dangerous for workers because they are exposed to very high concentration of asbestos fibers. The asbestos fibers can be inhaled by laborers and cause cancerous growths in the lungs and abdomen. Workers in the developing countries are at even higher risk as are their families and communities that also come into contact with asbestos. Worldwide, about 125 million people are exposed to asbestos at work and at least 90,000 die each year from asbestos-related diseases, according to the World Health Organization.

Asbestos was once called the “magic mineral” because of its many uses but was later found to be dangerous to miners, workers, and civilians. Some claim there is a “safe use” of asbestos in the “controlled use” of chrystotile asbestos. To this, demonstrator and environmental consultant, Barry Castleman replies, “It’s just propaganda.” Castleman (watch his interview in the CBC documentary) also commented that Quebec politics is also to blame. The only active mine is in Quebec so the political parties fear that supporting a ban on asbestos and shutting down the industry would upset Quebec voters.

Another dangerous material that affects worker safety is the dangerous pesticide, endosulfan. Workers are frequently exposed to toxic chemicals through pesticides and fertilizers such as endosulfan in the Philippine Pineapple industry (Read the ILRF report “The Sour Taste of Pineapple”). Endosulfan was banned by the FPA in 1993, but exemptions to the ban were granted in 1995 to pineapple industry giants Del Monte and Dole to kill the mites in pineapple plants. Check out the work ILRF is doing for pineapple workers in the Philippines.