There can be few people over the age of thirty who are unaware of the dangers of asbestos – from mesothelioma to breathing difficulties among others; and yet, it has taken a spoof news cast on the popular TV program The Daily Show to raise some awareness of the surprising plans of one Quebec-based mine to expand its asbestos production. A leading mesothelioma lawyer has expressed his hope that the broadcast will enlighten a few people.

Our mining correspondent notes: “The broadcast took an irreverent look at the plans regarding the mine in Asbestos, Quebec, where the owner of the mine plans to reopen production in order to sell mined asbestos to countries who have less stringent regulations regarding the use of the material. The fact that the material will need to be mined means that people working there will be at a huge risk of contracting asbestos- related illnesses.”

One thing that is well known about mesothelioma and similar illnesses is that they can take decades to fully appear; by which time it is often far too late to take the necessary steps to combat them. The real shock for many people with regard to the putative reopening of the mine is that no-one in the mining industry in Canada can be ignorant of the risks involved, and yet they are still considering the project.

Our correspondent concludes: “This broadcast is one of the first widely-viewed pieces of coverage regarding the activity around the mine, and the hope among personal-injury lawyers is that it will raise awareness that, although the industry has turned its back on asbestos, there are still people ready to exploit suffering to make a quick profit.”