The City of Winnipeg is filled with very old, run down homes and properties. It is surprising how many of these occupancies do not have updated copper plumbing, gas furnaces or panel boxes for electricity. Worse still, is the number of homes that are still insulated with asbestos.

Back in the 70's the government ran a program promoting a certain type of insulation. This insulation was very economical and easy to come by... it also contained asbestos. Now, a few decades later, people realize how deadly asbestos can be. However, the government is not willing to lift a finger to assist home owners with the expense of replacing this asbestos containing insulation that the government once promoted.

In Canada, it is illegal to sell a home through the MLS system without disclosing any defects or health hazards that may exist on the property. If a home is insulated with asbestos and this is not disclosed, the seller is liable. So, in Winnipeg, you will find people trying to unload their asbestos insulated homes by means of private sales. My sister was looking to buy a little house. We found a darling little place that would have been perfect for her and it was in close proximity to our place as well. She fell in love with the house, but listened to people when they suggested having a home inspection. Sure enough, small bits of asbestos containing insulation were found in the basement, that completely escaped our notice, since we had no idea what to look for.

Although undisturbed asbestos insulation is said to pose no health risks, you just never know when unbeknown to you, that insulation gets disturbed. The terrifying thing, is that many of the schools in our city, which were built many, many years ago, also have asbestos containing insulation. Slowly, the city is replacing this hazardous material or even closing these schools down. However, in the meantime, it's pretty scary to think that all these little kids are spending the better part of their days in close proximity to this dangerous substance.

It's also very disconcerting to think that the government would promote such a dangerous substance as asbestos for use in peoples homes, only to find out that asbestos is so dangerous to human health. And then, for them not to take responsibility for their actions, and to provide no assistance to homeowners to remove this hazardous material from their homes and properties is unthinkable. And yet this is the reality that many homeowners in our city and across the country are dealing with.

One of my dear friends has lost his father to asbestos cancer mesothelioma. My friend’s father had undergone a lung transplant and he seemed as if he was doing well when he suddenly developed an infection. He was not able to battle the infection after everything he had just been through and he succumbed to the illness just before Christmas. Mesothelioma is a deadly cancer caused by inhaling particles of asbestos. The particles eat away at the lining of the lungs and gradually develop into asbestos cancer. Mesothelioma has been a concern for many workers over the past few decades and many are finding that they have become ill years after leaving a job that exposed them to the asbestos. Those who suffer from mesothelioma were probably exposed to the asbestos for a period of twenty to thirty years. Sadly, many people were exposed to asbestos dust at work. Some workers carried the dust home with them, exposing their families. Even more distressing is that their employers were often aware of the dangers their workers faced. This is a startling fact because the employers were aware of the possible illness and they were aware that the workers were bringing the dangerous substance home with them. Not only were the workers exposed, but many of their family members were as well, developing the asbestos cancer, mesothelioma. Many families, including my friend’s family, choose to seek help from a mesothelioma asbestos lawyer. Today, the mesothelioma asbestos lawyers are keener than they were years ago. My friend’s family settled for a lump sum of around fifty thousand dollars. However, the asbestos cancer, mesothelioma is insidious and my friend’s family was faced with staggering medical bills that they could barely pay years after the settlement. Mesolink.org is a site that provides an overview of the asbestos cancer mesothelioma, including news, research and research. Mesolink.org also has a legal guide for those who need legal advice. This site is a good resource for families who have members who have been exposed to asbestos. It is crucial to find a good mesothelioma asbestos lawyer in order to assure that you are fairly compensated. It may be in the family’s best interest to discuss their case with a mesothelioma asbestos lawyer who can assure that future medical bill can be paid in addition to fair compensation for their family member’s illness. No amount of money can replace a loved one, but the devastation of financial ruin in addition to the loss of a loved one just makes the grieving process unbearable.   nelsonpublishing.com  Books Blitz .com      More Affiliate Links