Edmonton man dies after inhaling walnut particles

tay

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May 20, 2012
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used in sandblasting

The family of an man who died from his nut allergy while working at an Edmonton fire hall wants to warn others about the dangers of airborne nut particles in places you wouldn’t expect.

On Oct. 2, Justin Mathews went to work at the Rossdale fire station. He was there to test the air quality because another company had just been inside sandblasting old lead paint off the walls.

His family said he was inside the building for about 20 minutes when he started having trouble breathing, walked outside and collapsed.

He went into anaphylactic shock.

“He inhaled probably a lot of walnut particles from the walnut blasting compound that was all over there,” explained Justin’s father, David Mathews.

David was told walnut shells are now being used in sandblasting because it’s environmentally friendly and healthier for workers than the silica sand used traditionally.

Justin’s mother believes her son didn’t know about the risk.

“I know sandblasting it is with the sand — never thought it would be with nuts,” Mabel Mathews said.

Justin developed his nut allergy when he was a child and all of his friends knew about it growing up.

https://globalnews.ca/news/3818707/...haling-walnut-particles-used-in-sandblasting/
 

Danbones

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Sep 23, 2015
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If you followed the doctors approved advise and didn't feed your kids nut products when they were babies you go from less then one percent of the people with this condition, to well over three percent of the population with this condition.

I guess that's why Doctors are a leading cause of death.
helps with the eppi pen sales though.
 

tay

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May 20, 2012
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Blasting is with all kind of substances including but not limited to Soda Ash.
I had no idea other things were used in blasting but then again this is on a large commercial scale and not the stand alone blaster that one may use to clean parts where you buy your blast from the local supplier.......
 

TenPenny

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Jun 9, 2004
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Location, Location
Sand, glass beads, soda, walnut shells, it all depends on what you're trying to accomplish and what the environmental rules are.


In this particular case, if he was the air quality inspector, why wasn't he informed of what media would be used for blasting? That makes no sense. Around here, the inspectors are fully informed about what process is being used. How else can they properly inspect?
 

Danbones

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Sep 23, 2015
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Gee, if they need to be told what they are inspecting for, what's the point of having an inspector?
;)
Maybe they just like nuts
 

tay

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May 20, 2012
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Sand, glass beads, soda, walnut shells, it all depends on what you're trying to accomplish and what the environmental rules are.


In this particular case, if he was the air quality inspector, why wasn't he informed of what media would be used for blasting? That makes no sense. Around here, the inspectors are fully informed about what process is being used. How else can they properly inspect?
No one may have thought to mention or consider walnut shells. And he did have an allergy to walnuts that would not have affected other people....
 

MHz

Time Out
Mar 16, 2007
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Couldn't the shells be blended in with the topsoil that is sold or would that be a danger also?
The next alternative would be the Mariana trench, either directly of where the island of plastic is in the Pacific as that is the 'drain' and anything there goes to the deepest parts of the ocean.
 

TenPenny

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Typically, a site inspector will have a project description that, in this case, would describe the work being performed, the reason for it, and the methodology including what materials are being used. That way, the inspector can be prepared for the inspection.