Is Asbestos Killing You?

Asbestos is mined as a dense rock, which easily separates into fine fibers. Asbestos fibers are especially favored as building blocks for various materials because of its strength, temperature resistance and chemical inertness.

Undoubtedly, asbestos has provided mankind with so many uses. However, asbestos comes with accompanying health hazards. Studies show that about 1.3 million people are exposed to asbestos at the workplace. These include people who are working in the construction industry and those in the manufacture of products made of asbestos. Workers in the construction industry are especially exposed to the hazards of asbestos during building demolition and or renovation wherein asbestos products are removed from the site.

Although most of us may have been exposed to asbestos one time or another, illness caused by asbestos exposure is only evident to those people who are regularly exposed to this mineral. Since asbestos fibers are extremely fine, they are easily suspended in the air. Since experts discovered the hazardous effects of asbestos exposure, its use has been regulated from that time on. The use of asbestos in products like imitation logs for gas-burning fireplaces and spackling compound has long been banned in the United States. Asbestos regulation is aimed towards the reduction of asbestos fiber inhalation by workers and other people.

Prolonged exposure to the fine asbestos fibers suspended in the air may result into a form of pneumoconiosis known as asbestosis. Stiff lungs with an excess of scar or fibrous tissue are often the characteristic sign of asbestosis. A person suffering from this disease may find it difficult to breath because of the stiffness in the lungs. Much effort is needed in order to expand the lungs during breathing. Abnormal sounds in the chest may be heard. In some cases, the membrane surrounding the lungs called the pleura may develop calcified plaques. Asbestosis patients will experience shortness in breathing accompanied with dry cough. They may also develop clubbed fingertips with bluish hands and feet due to a deficient supply of oxygen in the blood.

It will take at least 10 years of exposure to asbestos before asbestosis appears. Asbestosis however may worsen once present in the body even when there is no more exposure to the offending substance. It has been observed that construction workers, pipe fitters, shipbuilders and those working in brake lining factories have higher risk of developing asbestosis. Cancer of the lungs is also a possible consequence of a long-term asbestos inhalation. Additionally, cigarette-smoking asbestos workers are four times at greater risk of developing lung cancer than people who are not exposed to asbestos. A rare type of cancer called pleural mesothelioma is also linked to asbestos inhalation. Studies show that about 70% of pleural mesothelioma victims has a history of asbestos exposure.

No treatment has been found to be effective against asbestosis. In lung cancer associated with asbestosis, surgery can be the form of treatment although the general outcome is often poor.

Therefore, in order to prevent any asbestos related diseases, it is important to provide proper dust control in workplaces where asbestos is processed. Studies show that the incidence of lung cancer and other asbestos related illnesses can be significantly reduced through proper dust control and management.

Michael Russell Your Independent guide to Asbestos

Asbestos - Dangers and Diseases

Asbestos has been used for centuries and is not, as some think, a recent product. At one time items made from asbestos were regarded as having an equal value to gold. In fact, it is reputed that Charles the Great, (King of the Franks in the year 768) had a tablecloth made from asbestos. It does have a resistance to fire and heat and has been used over centuries for this practical purpose - from historical uses such as lamp wicks and Egyptian burial shrouds through to modern brake pad linings. It has been used for high temperature wiring insulation as well as in the construction of buildings to insulate and protect against fire.

There are many forms of asbestos but there are three main types, white, brown and blue.

White asbestos: otherwise known as chrysotile is the type preferred in industry. It has a flexible property and has been used in many theatres for fire safety curtains, as well as for firefighter?s protective clothing. Some evidence exists that it is harmful but not as harmful as some other types.

Brown asbestos: also known as amosite, this type usually originates from Africa and is highly bio-hazardous.

Blue asbestos: also known as crocidolite comes from Australia and Africa. This type is believed to be the most dangerous type of asbestos, therefore it is extremely bio-hazardous.

There are other types that someone may come across, some of which include actinolite asbestos, anthophyllite asbestos and tremolite asbestos. These are not as commonly used industrially, but may still be found in some products.

The main danger to health from asbestos is from the fibres, which can be inhaled. The four main diseases associated with asbestos fibre inhalation are asbestosis, mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer and diffuse pleural thickening.

Asbestosis: Caused by inhaling asbestos fibres, generally from heavy exposure. It is defined as lung fibrosis.

Mesothelioma: This is a form of cancer where cancerous or malignant cells are found in the mesothelium. This is the protective sac that most of the body?s organs are covered with. It mainly affects the lining of the lungs, which is known as the pleura and the peritoneum, which surrounds the lower digestive tract. Around 80 percent of cases of mesothelioma show the patient to have had a history of exposure to asbestos.

Asbestos-related lung cancer: For many years now asbestos exposure has been recognised as a high risk factor for the development of lung cancer. It is not possible, however, to put a direct number to the amount of cases of lung cancer, which have been caused by asbestos. This is because there are other risk agents that cause the disease, tobacco smoke for instance. Unfortunately it is not possible to distinguish which risk agent was the cause of a case of lung cancer.

Diffuse pleural thickening: As mentioned previously the pleura is a membrane covering which lines the inside of the rib cage and also surrounds the lungs. If asbestos fibres are inhaled, some may work their way into the pleura and this can lead to scarring and or fibrosis. This may cause the pleura to thicken. The condition will show up on an x-Ray. If this thickening spreads over a large area it may cause a restriction of expansion of the lungs.

It has now become clear that exposure to asbestos can be harmful. Because of this, the use of it has virtually disappeared. If there are products in the home that may contain asbestos, it is advisable to have a professional contractor inspect them. It is a complex process to remove asbestos and should always be done by a qualified person. It can be a highly dangerous and even lethal substance. If in doubt then call someone out.

Michael Russell Your Independent guide to Asbestos

Asbestos - What It Is And How It's Used

In this, and a series of articles that will follow, we will cover asbestos, what it is, how it's made, what it's used for, the health risks of asbestos exposure and how to protect yourself against asbestos.

Asbestos isn't actually one thing. It is a name given to a group of minerals. These minerals occur naturally in bundles of fibers that can be separated into thin threads. These fibers are completely resistant to heat and any kind of chemical and do not conduct electricity. Because of these attributes asbestos is has been used in many industries.

There are basically four types of asbestos that are used.

1. Chrysotile, or white asbestos 2. Crocidolite, or blue asbestos 3. Amosite, which usually has brown fibers 4. Anthophyllite, which usually has gray fibers

The problem with asbestos fibers is that they tend to break very easily and the dust made up of these fibers floats into the air and gets on our clothes and in our lungs. When this happens serious health problems can occur.

Asbestos was first mined and commercially used in the United States in the late 1800s. During the second world war its use increased dramatically. Since then it has been used in many industries. To give some examples, the building and construction industry uses it to strengthen cement and plastics. They also use it for insulation, fireproofing and sound absorption. The shipbuilding industry uses asbestos to insulate boilers, steam pipes and hot water pipes. The automobile industry uses it in its brake shoes and clutch pads. There are over 5000 products that contain asbestos including sewage piping, roofing and siding, electric switchboards, table pads, heat protective mats, heat resistant blankets and curtains, paints, adhesives, caulking, and the list goes on and on.

But when the dangers of asbestos became known in the 1970s the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) banned the use of asbestos in wallboard patching compounds and gas fireplaces because the asbestos fibers in these products could be released into the air from its use. Also during that time, asbestos was removed from electric hair dryers. In 1989 the EPA finally banned all new uses of asbestos. Uses prior to 1989, however, are still allowed. Since that time, the EPA has established regulations that require school systems to inspect for asbestos that has been damaged in order to eliminate, or at least reduce, the exposure to students and faculty, by removing the damaged areas.

In the year 2000 the EPA concluded that the current risk to children from asbestos in schools was very low, however, it was agreed that their products would have to be reformulated within a year. By August of that same year products were being made that greatly reduced the amount of dust that was released during use. The amount of metric tons of asbestos generated in a year dropped from 719,000 metric tons in 1973 to only 9000 metric tons by the year 2000.

In the next instalment we'll go over the health risks from exposure to asbestos.

Michael Russell Your Independent guide to Asbestos

How To Handle Asbestos In Your Home

Asbestos has been related with many debilitating diseases. Asbestos was once a widely used building material because it is strong and durable. If you live in a home that is over 20 years old there is a possibility that there is asbestos in your home. Asbestos was banned from being used in 1985, but asbestos already in place remains unless removed. If you suspect there is asbestos in your home there are some things you can do.

Asbestos is not harmful unless it is disturbed, such as during remodeling. So the first thing to do is to stay calm. Even if you have asbestos in your home you may not have been exposed to its harmful effects. Asbestos can not be identified form appearance alone, so it is important to call an inspector to test the area of suspicion. Most often asbestos can be found in roofs, wall panels, pipes and bath panels. If you suspect asbestos it is best to let a professional handle the situation. It is important not to disturb the area until after testing.

There are a few different ways to deal with and remove asbestos from your home. Sealing or asbestos encapsulation is where undamaged asbestos is coated with a substance that prevents the asbestos fibers from becoming airborne. If the asbestos is not intact and is crumbling or damaged then it should be covered or remove. It is important to seek the help of a professional in this matter.

Asbestos can be harmful if not handled properly. It is very important if you have damaged areas that are suspected to contain asbestos, that you get them inspected and removed if necessary. It is also important to remember that undamaged asbestos posses no immediate harm and if coated will prevent further problems. Always handle asbestos situations seriously and correct problems immediately. Stephen Kreutzer is a freelance publisher based in Cupertino, California. He publishes articles and reports in various ezines and provides asbestos information on CyberTopics!