A group of Canadian physicians are the latest opponents of the Canadian asbestos industry. The Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment is hoping to persuade Quebec Premier Jean Charest to ban the sale of asbestos. Charest recently embarked on a diplomatic trip to India. Much of Quebec’s asbestos is exporting to India and other countries in the developing world.

Generally speaking, the majority of these countries do not have legislation in place to protect people from the health risks associated with asbestos exposure, such as mesothelioma, lung cancer, and asbestosis. Mesothelioma is a deadly form of cancer linked almost exclusively to asbestos exposure, and can kill some patients within just weeks of being diagnosed.

“It is, in our opinion, irreconcilable to promote academic links between Indian and Quebec universities while failing to defend scientific freedom of speech from flagrant attacks by Quebec and Indian industry lobby groups,” the Canadian physicians stated in their letter to Mr. Charest.

They added, “This is a moment when silence is complicity and, on behalf of Quebec, you have in our opinion a responsibility to speak up unequivocally to defend the independent science and the public right to information.”

Retired University of Laval professor of medicine Fernand Turcotte is one of the physicians most concerned by the ongoing asbestos trade. “This is an extremely powerful industry,” Dr. Turcotte said in an interview on Thursday. “We are urging Mr. Charest to take a public stand during his trade mission to India in support of our colleagues.”

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