Asbestos refers to a set of six
naturally occurring fibrous minerals. Asbestos has six primary
sub-classifications: chrysotile, crocidolite, amosite, anthophyllite,
tremolite, and actinolite. Among these, chrysotile and amosite asbestos are the most common.
Although asbestos fibers are
microscopic in nature, they are extremely durable and resistant to fire and
most chemical reactions and breakdowns. These properties of asbestos were the
reasons that supported its use for many years in a number of different
commercial and industrial capacities. The strength of asbestos, combined with its
resistance to heat, allowed it to become the material of choice in a variety of
products, including, but not limited to, roofing shingles, floor tiles, ceiling
materials, cement compounds, textile products, and automotive parts.
Asbestos is now strictly regulated as exposure to this toxic mineral can now be
directly and scientifically linked to a number of lung and respiratory health
conditions.
Why is Asbestos Hazardous?
The use of asbestos sharply
declined in the late 1970s when it became evident that asbestos posed a threat
to human health and safety. Today, asbestos is classified as a known human
carcinogen. The property of durability—which made asbestos so desirable to
manufacturers—is that which makes asbestos hazardous. Asbestos fibers are
microscopic (roughly .02 the diameter of a human hair), and therefore, are
easily inhaled. Once inhaled, the fibers cling to the respiratory system,
including the lining of the lungs and inner cavity tissue. As asbestos fibers
are typically quite rigid, they become lodged in the soft internal tissue of
the respiratory system and are not easily expelled or broken-down by the body.
Hundreds of thousands of people
were exposed to asbestos in some capacity as a result of the mineral’s
extensive use in domestic, commercial, and industrial products. There is no
safe type of asbestos and no safe level of exposure. Nearly all those with
exposure history are potentially at risk of serious respiratory health
complications.
Who is At Risk of Exposure to
Asbestos?
There were hundreds of occupations
affected by asbestos exposure. Asbestos was used in thousands of commercial
products and industrial capacities and those working with the material in these
industries are potentially at risk of harmful exposure. Industries in which
asbestos use was particularly prevalent include shipbuilding, commercial
product manufacturing, power plants, and construction. Workers employed in
these industries prior to 1980 likely encountered asbestos products.
While asbestos exposure is
hazardous, not all asbestos products are inherently hazardous. Because asbestos
must be inhaled to represent a health risk, only loose asbestos fibers or those
in the air supply (a condition known as friable) represent a true hazard.
Stable asbestos compounds, such as intact cement, tiles, or other products are
generally not an immediate hazard.
Exposure to friable asbestos
fibers was common when grinding, chipping, demolishing, or retrofitting
asbestos products. Each of these functions could potentially release asbestos into
the air supply where it would be easily inhaled.
What Health Conditions are
Associated with Exposure to Asbestos
There are three major lung
conditions traced directly to asbestos exposure. These are lung cancer,
mesothelioma, and asbestosis. Lung cancer risk, typically associated with
tobacco use, is known to be exacerbated by exposure to asbestos. Symptoms
include coughing, chest pain, and difficulty breathing.
Mesothelioma is
a rare and aggressive cancer of the lung and inner body’s cavity lining- a thin
membrane known as the mesothelium. Mesothelioma is typically recognized as the
most clearly attributable disease resulting from asbestos exposure.
Mesothelioma originates in three locations. Pleural mesothelioma forms in the
lining of the lungs and is the most common form of the disease. Peritoneal and
pericardial mesothelioma are less common and form in the lining of the
abdominal cavity and lining of the heart, respectively.
Asbestosis is a degenerative
and progressive non-malignant long-term respiratory condition. Asbestosis results
from the formation of scar tissue plaques on the visceral surface of the
pleura. Asbestosis can represent a pre-cursor to the onset of mesothelioma.
Source: http://www.mesothelioma.com/asbestos-cancer/what-is-asbestos.htm
0 Response to "What is Asbestos?"
Post a Comment