Asbestos

The inhalation of asbestos fibers can cause serious illnesses, including mesothelioma. Since the mid 1980s, many uses of asbestos are banned in many countries.

- Via Wikipedia.

There’s a house about a block away from mine that’s been getting uglier and uglier over the years. It was bought a few months ago and construction/renovations started sometime in the past month. Last week, the place was boarded up and covered in “Warning Asbestos!” signs. Today, it’s completely demolished and there’s a strange odour dissipating in a half block radius.

The building I mainly work in is notoriously fire-retardant thanks to the asbestos in the floors/ceilings. I’m never sure if the powder on the ground is dirt or airborne cancer.

Back in 2001, I was walking to my Geology course at Concordia University’s Loyola campus when I saw a work crew playing in the ceiling outside the class.

Me: Hey, what’s going on?
Worker: We’re sucking the asbestos out of the ceiling.
Me: You’re wearing masks… oh dear…

I hope this serves as an explanation when I die from something other than lung cancer and my last words are: “Fuck you, asbestos!”

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