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In 2003 while working with a legal clinic on a project on injured workers
I was made aware of a man who was dying of an occupational disease from exposure
to asbestos. I had no idea of the scope and tragedy associated with asbestos
until I was introduced to Blayne Kinart. He is seen in these photos at the
age of 57, having been diagnosed with mesothelioma in 2002, a year earlier.
He wanted me to tell his story, and so I photographed him until the disease
took his life in 2004.
Mesothelioma is a malignant tumour of the covering of the lung or the lining
of the pleural and abdominal cavities, most often associated with exposure
to asbestos. Use of the material can be traced back several centuries until
American Dr. Irving Selikoff discovered the link between asbestos and fatal
diseases in 1954.
Blayne Kinart worked at the Welland Chemical plant in Sarnia as a pipe fitter
and, like thousands of workers around the world, was exposed to asbestos
dust. The latency period of the disease after being exposed to asbestos is
from 10-30 years. A number of countries have banned the use of the material
while many countries continue to use it and up until recently Canada was
one of the largest producers.
Documenting the legacy of asbestos has become a long term project that I
continue to work on.
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