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Quebec environmental groups launch a campaign to stop asbestos mining in the province

Nature Québec and Pour que le Quebec ait meilleure mine say asbestos should not be mined because is too dangerous for human health, reports MontrealGazette.

Debate about whether to label chrysotile asbestos as a hazardous material under the United Nations' Rotterdam Convention began on Tuesday, and is scheduled to continue on Thursday after consensus among more than 100 countries did not emerge.

The convention's expert scientific committee repeated its recommendation on Tuesday that chrysotile asbestos, (a known carcinogen already banned in many developed countries) be listed on Annex III of the convention.

If chrysotile asbestos is listed, "Prior Informed Consent" will be required before countries can export the mineral - this would mean that importing countries are informed of the hazards and can refuse to accept it if they believe they can't handle it safely.

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