The McGill University Health Centre in Montreal was lauded as one of the most environmentally sound hospitals in the world when it received LEED certification; however, that certification may be revoked after asbestos was discovered within the cement used to construct the facility. Specifically, the tainted cement was used to manufacture drainage pipes, a procedure that officials insist is “safe.” While using asbestos materials has been outlawed in the United States for years, Canada still produces, uses, and exports massive quantities of asbestos worldwide. In addition, Canadian legislation still allows for asbestos use in new construction in certain cases.
While MUHC officials see the revocation of Silver LEED Status as too harsh a move, the Canada Green Buildings Council, which is responsible for upholding LEED standards, does not allow for the use of any asbestos in new building construction.
The difficulty hinges on SNC-Lavalin’s decision to use asbestos cement. The lead engineering firm and partner behind the new construction at the facility defended their decision citing the fact that the composite materials is only 13 percent asbestos and the fibers, they say, are safely locked away within the cement -what is often referred to as encapsulated asbestos.
Officials at MUHC share the sentiment and said in an official statement that "there will be no asbestos fibers circulating in the air at the MUHC.”
While the statement goes on to say that “the fibers are not brittle and therefore pose no risk of emission of particles in the air,” similar claims have been made in the past and have since been found to be false. Recently the EPA updated its stance on procedures for handling asbestos and admitted that wetting construction and demolition debris may not provide as much safety from asbestos as they had once believed. The truth is nobody really knows just how dangerous asbestos is.
The debate rages on as MUHC plan to protest the LEED revocation. Citing the Quebec Safety Code of Construction, which permits the use of asbestos cement in new construction, officials hope that the Canada Green Building Council will reverse their decision.
However, even MUHC officials were forced to concede that there are risks associated with working with and handling this “safe” asbestos cement. These risks occur when cutting the drainage pipe – which releases particulates and asbestos tainted dust. However, according to the same official statement mentioned above “. . . these risks are well controlled and all precautions are taken in accordance with the guidelines of the CSST (Commission de la santé et de la sécurité du travail)."
What these officials have seemingly failed to realize is that while asbestos cement, when intact, may be relatively safe, in-place asbestos materials are subject to degradation and decay, processes which can effectively release that “encapsulated asbestos” into the environment. The World Health Organization (WHO) has recently reiterated this danger in a statement to all nations who continue to use asbestos cement.
The true danger comes from asbestos’s carcinogenic properties. The mineral can cause a wide variety of cancers including mesothelioma in addition to other deadly illnesses. Even small amounts of asbestos or minimal amounts of exposure can cause these deadly health crises.
Several health groups both within Canada and internationally have banded together to pressure the Canadian government to restrict the mining, use, and exportation of asbestos and asbestos materials but the official stance is that encapsulated asbestos is still la safe and viable option for construction materials.