Foundry Workers and Cancer

        For a long time, asbestos stood out as being the focal point, as a carcinogen (cancer causing agent), that Foundry workers were routinely exposed to. Quite a few WSIB claims for mesothelioma, lung cancer or asbestosis were allowed due to exposure to it. A week ago the WSIB allowed a lung cancer claim for a recently deceased worker who was employed at the Affinia/ITT Aimco Foundry that was located on Berryman Ave. in St. Catharines. However, it was not allowed on the basis of the worker's limited exposure to asbestos. It was allowed due to his decades of exposure to silica dust even though the worker had smoked for about half of his life. Silica crystals are a carcinogen. They not only can cause lung cancer. They elevate the risk of gastro-intestinal cancer as well.

 

       Thousands of workers were employed at the GM Foundry on Glendale Ave. which closed in 1995 after approximately 40 years of operation. To my knowledge not one worker in that Foundry who died of lung or gastro-intestinal cancer ever had a claim filed, let alone allowed, due to exposure to anything other than asbestos. Many of these ex-Foundry workers are still alive. Some are still working at GM. If you know any of them who have or have had lung or gastro-intestinal cancer I want to talk to them because the GM Foundry was filled with silica, including airborne silica, as well as a lesser amount of asbestos. GM must be made accountable to its Foundry workers who died or will die due to lung or gastro-intestinal cancer as a result of exposure to silica dust.