• In Canada, asbestos mining is confined to the province of Quebec.limestone mine image by Alex White from Fotolia.com
  
  Asbestos is a generic name given to 6 different minerals. Because these minerals have long fibers that are strong, flexible and heat resistant, asbestos has been used extensively in the making of products in the manufacturing and construction industries. When tiny fibers of asbestos enter the environment, through natural breakdown of the minerals or wear and tear of the asbestos product, these fibers become suspended in the air and, when inhaled, can cause scarring in the lining of the lungs. This has led Canada to impose certain restrictions on the sale, use and importing and exporting of asbestos. All of Canada's operational asbestos mines are located in the province of Quebec. Canada ranks as the one of the top producers of asbestos, second only to Russia, and exports the majority of its asbestos products to developing nations.
  
  

Prohibited Asbestos Products

• In 1999, the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA) declared asbestos a toxic substance. This designation, however, does not prohibit the mining of asbestos, nor the sale of its products. In Canada, the sale and use of asbestos is regulated by the federal Ministry of Health, under the Hazardous Products Act of 2007. Crocidolite asbestos, also known as "blue" asbestos, is considered the most hazardous and toxic asbestos fiber. In Canada, crocidolite asbestos is prohibited in the use of models, sculptures, products simulating embers or ashes and products made entirely out of crocidolite asbestos.
  
  

Conditional Use of Prohibited Asbestos Products

• Not all products containing crocidolite asbestos are prohibited for sale, use or import. These crocidolite products include such manufactured goods as torque converters, asbestos cement pipes, diaphragms for chloralkali production and acid and temperature resistant seals. These goods must bear a clear warning of their crocidolite asbestos content.
  
  

Controlled Use and Sale

• Non-crocidolite asbestos products are controlled in the use and sale of manufactured goods. These goods include drywall joint cement, certain textiles worn on the body and the construction of children's playground structures. In order to comply with the Hazardous Products Act, the asbestos in these goods must provide protection against fire and airborne asbestos particles cannot be separated from the item in the post-manufacturing process. Any non-crocidolite asbestos that is sprayed onto an item may also be sold, as long as the asbestos coating cannot be flaked or crumbled off after the item has dried.