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| Concrete Decor Archives — Carlton's Corner |
March/April 2008 Vol.8 No.2
Dying for Decorative Concrete
by Doug Carlton
There is not a comforting way to say the word “cancer.” Even in this day of strong chances of recovery and survival, it is a word that gets our attention every time. I realize this isn’t my usual, upbeat article, but the fact is, what we are working with may be killing us. Although the products we use turn normal concrete into extraordinary works of art, some of those products are carcinogenic. Many products become airborne (as particulate) and these silicas have been proven to cause the Big C. This may not worry you, but before you turn the page let me ask this: What about your children? Some doctors say the effects of what we inhale may appear in our offspring. Not a very pleasant thought, is it?
A friend told me of a conversation he had while in the waiting room for his radiation treatment. Sitting next to him was a younger man, and a conversation started between them, not unlike nervous chatter sometimes heard on airplanes. Both men compared war wounds, and the conversation quickly cut to the chase and straight to the future of each man.
Our guy told of hope and looked forward to getting his treatment behind him and his life back to normal. The rebuttal was not so bright. His new friend told a story less encouraging and felt his future was limited, to say the least. He seemed to accept the inevitable, yet found peace, all while attempting a long shot with this treatment.
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