The global trend has been to either restrict or ban its use, but the Canadian government continues to resist the move to ban asbestos. It exports asbestos to primarily developing countries such as India. Seven of Canada's top markets are in developing countries. Worse, in the next 30 years, it could claim another 1 million lives mostly in the developing world, according to a study conducted by USA Today. Exposure to asbestos particles can lead to many diseases.
Some diseases are malignant or cancerous, such as mesothelioma and lung cancer.
Others are non-malignant, such as asbestosis, pleural plaques, diffuse pleural fibrosis, and benign pleural effusions. The three main diseases are asbestosis, peural mesothelioma and peritoneal mesothelioma. There is no cure or effective treatment for asbestosis. People with asbestosis are also at high risk of developing lung cancer or mesothelioma. Peural Mesothelioma is a cancer of the thin membrane enclosing in the lungs, a rare form of cancer that is not associated with smoking.