An Unexpected Place To Find An Allergian

On October 22nd Global News had an incredibly sad story about a man named Justin Mathews in Edmonton, Alberta*.  He went to test the air quality after a building (a Fire Hall) had been sandblasting to remove the lead paint off its walls.  Unbeknownst to him they had used walnut shells to do the sandblasting.
According to **The National Posts' story silica was replaced in the use of sandblasting because of all the significant health problems it was known to cause.  In it's place the industry is now using things like coconut shells, walnut shells and even corn cobs. While it's promoted as a safer more environmentally friendly option many of us have no idea that that's what is being used.
Sadly not knowing this, a man who had a nut allergy went into anaphylatic shock after being unknowingly exposed for about 20 minutes. He later passed away in hospital.  According to this article there were no signs or any type of warning to say that nuts had been used in this process.

Understandably the family is now advocating for warnings to be displayed whenever this product is used.  They are also asking that Epinephrin or EpiPens be more readily available. Sadly first responders at the Fire Hall did not have Epinephrin and Justin was not carrying one on that day.

So where to begin to find out about these things?  Well there is a very helpful site called chemurgy.blogspot.ca where you can find all kinds of information on household and Industry products made from potential allergens. 
It's quite an eye opener.  For example did you now that nuts can sometimes be found in paint?  It can be added to create texture. Or what about bean bag chairs?  Did you know they can sometimes be filled with peanut shells?

sources:
*  globalnews.ca/news/3818707/edmonton-man-dies-after-inhaling-walnut-particles-used-in-sandblasting/  (story by Sarah Kraus, reporter for Global News)
** nationalpost.com/pmn/news-pmn/canada-news-pmn/man-with-allergy-dies-from-walnut-shells-used-at-construction-site    (The Canadian Press, Chris Purdy, Oct 23,2017)
blog.onespotallergy.com/2017/10/workers-death-shines-light-on-hidden-food-allergens-in-industrial-products/