World Trade Center Asbestos

27. April 2013 · 2 comments · Categories: Asbestos in Buildings, Information, Mesothelioma · Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,


 

Insulating and Fireproofing

Asbestos Safety Ad featuring the World Trade Center

The World Trade Center which was being built in 1971 had construction plans changed when New York City banned the use of asbestos in buildings. At that point construction of the World Trade Center was near the 64th floor of the twin towers.  Thirty years before the September 11 attack it was prophetically suggested by the inventor of the wet asbestos fireproofing spray, that if there ever was a fire above the 64th floor the buildings could collapse. On February 13, 1975 there was a fire on the 11th floor of the World Trade Center North Tower which was put out within a few hours. The Asbestos  industry took credit for the outcome in the advertisement shown above about the benefits of asbestos in buildings. When many years later the twin towers of the World Trade Center came down, after terrorist hijackers crashed planes into the upper floors on September 11, 2001, Lower Manhattan was filled with toxic dust and many people had major asbestos exposure.

Deadly Dust

Dust from World Trade Center Collapse on September 11

September 11 rescuers, survivors and occupants of the area have suffered from asbestos exposure and illnesses from inhaling the asbestos and other toxins in the air. In addition to the fine asbestos powder which landed on September 11 the Boston Globe reported on September 14, 2001 that one test sample taken of the air in the vicinity of ground zero contained 4% asbestos which is four times the legal limit of 1% at which point it is considered unsafe. Cranes and bulldozers working in the area for clean up, continuously disturbed the asbestos dust for months.   Many people will in time develop Asbestosis or worse, Mesothelioma, a deadly cancer, which can only be caused by asbestos exposure.

Most large buildings up until the late 1970s were constructed with asbestos for safety reasons.  The World Trade Center was opened April 4, 1973 and was filled with asbestos.  That is how buildings were built. Not anymore. There is no asbestos in buildings built today but people continue to live, work and attend school in asbestos filled older buildings every day. Asbestos exposure is still an everyday occurrence in Canada and the USA. The greatest danger from asbestos exposure comes when it is disturbed and released in the air to be breathed in by people in the vicinity. There are many lessons to be learned from the construction and the September 11, 2001 destruction of the World Trade Center.

 

Chrysotile Institute is Closing – Bravo!

05. May 2012 · 1 comment · Categories: Asbestos Exports, Asbestos in the Workplace, Information · Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,


 

Founded in 1984

Good Bye and Good Riddance

The asbestos industry in Canada has been supported by an organization called The Chrysotile Institute based in Montreal for many years. It was founded in 1984 (a perfect year for such an Orwellian organization to begin) and was originally called the Asbestos Institute. It was most recently funded by the Quebec Government.  The Institute closed at the end of April 2012 with no public explanation given. The office in Montreal was quietly vacated April 5th with no forwarding address or phone number. On April 28th notice was posted in the Canada Gazette of intention to surrender its federal corporate charter.  It no longer exists.  The institute had been the leading source of asbestos disinformation around the world. It suggests that Chrysotile, the white form of asbestos mined in Canada, is safer than blue or other types of asbestos and it is okay to use with modest safety precautions. An example of their message that asbestos is good and minimizing the danger of it, is the following quote:
“Scientific and medical research has revealed that excessive exposure to inhaled asbestos dust can be dangerous to health. It should be noted, however, that the risks are generally related to exposure during handling of asbestos fibres in work environment.”
This quote and other false and dangerous information can still be found at www.chrysotile.com the website for the institute. Although the institute has abruptly ceased operations and closed, the website can be found online but hopefully it too will disappear. The misinformation campaign of the asbestos industry continues without it. Help us spread the truth and save lives in Canada and around the world.