Asbestos Concerns In Military Homes -- MesoLink.org -- 10-24-05

Concerns have been raised over the issue of asbestos in military homes after a woman living in military housing in CFB Kingston with her family has spoken out about her fears of asbestos related disease. The unnamed woman has expressed concern over the lack of protection provided by the Canadian government, and fears for the health of her family.

"I'm afraid my daughters are going to come down with a deadly illness -- 10, 15 years down the road. I have laid in my bed and cried that I've put my daughters in harm's way," said the wife. She added that the asbestos was in the insulation in the attic area of the house, an area frequently used for storage. This type of asbestos can cause mesothelioma, a serious and deadly cancer, if disturbed and inhaled.

“I didn't know there was anything up there contaminating their clothes, their toys, their books. The hot air comes down from the ducts that are up there and blows out at us,” she added “When I moved here years ago, I wouldn't have moved into one of these. I didn't know.”

Claims are made that the government has known about the presence of asbestos insulation in such military homes since the mid 1990s, yet nothing has been done to make the homes safe and protect the military families living in them.