What is Asbestos?
What is asbestos?
Asbestos is a group of six natural silicate minerals composed of fine, fine fibers. Asbestos provides heat resistance, chemical resistance, fire resistance and strength. As a result, asbestos has become a popular additive in a variety of products. Individuals exposed to asbestos face health risks, including cancer and other illnesses.
Asbestos is the name given to a group of naturally occurring minerals that are resistant to heat and corrosion. Asbestos is used in products such as insulation for pipes (such as steam lines), floor tiles, building materials, and vehicle brakes and clutches.
Asbestos includes chrysotile, amosite, crocidolite, tremolite, anthophyllite, actinolite, and any of these chemically treated or modified materials. Massive exposure tends to occur during the construction industry and ship repairs, especially during the removal of asbestos material by refurbishment, repair or demolition.
Workers can also be exposed during the manufacture of asbestos products (textiles, friction products, insulation, other building materials, etc.) and during the repair work of automobile brakes and clutches.
What is asbestos used for?
Asbestos was used in various products mainly because of its heat resistance and fire resistance. Asbestos use peaked in the late 1900s. Minerals have been used in insulation, cement, flooring, roofing and refractory products. This practice was popular from the 1930s to the 1970s. In 1979, asbestos regulations forced manufacturers to use safer asbestos substitutes.
Asbestos products
Asbestos was once used in thousands of products. Regulations prohibit many new products from containing minerals, but they may legally contain low levels of asbestos. If asbestos is less than 1%, the manufacturer does not even need to disclose asbestos in the ingredient list.
Common asbestos products are:
Insulation Cement Floor tiles
Ceiling tiles Drywall Adhesives Shingles
Asbestos facts
Decades of research have shown that exposure to the naturally occurring mineral asbestos causes cancer and other serious illnesses. Knowing key asbestos statistics can help you understand your health risks and why avoiding asbestos exposure is so important.
Asbestos played a central role in American product manufacturing throughout the 20th century. Before the regulations came into force in the 1970s, it was used in thousands of products.
Americans who worked in the construction, manufacturing, and other blue-collar industries were at greatest risk of asbestos exposure. Studies show that about 20 percent of asbestos workers develop later-related illnesses.
Facts of exposure
1. Asbestos is banned in more than 60 countries, but not in the United States.
2. Asbestos exposure is the leading cause of labor-related deaths in the world.
3. About 90,000 people worldwide die from asbestos-related diseases each year.
4. An estimated 125 million people worldwide are at risk of occupational exposure to asbestos.
5. Today, approximately 1.3 million American workers in the construction and general industries are at risk of exposure.
Types of asbestos
The term asbestos refers to six naturally occurring fibrous minerals around the world.
-Chrysotile -Tremolite
-Crocidolite -Amosite
-Actinolite -Anthophyllite
The most widely used type of asbestos is chrysotile. It accounts for about 95% of asbestos used all over the world.
Asbestos fiber is naturally resistant to heat, fire, electricity and chemicals. These properties make it an ideal additive for products to prevent fire and chemical corrosion.
What is asbestos? Why is it potentially harmful?
You've probably heard people warn about the negative effects of asbestos on your health. But what exactly is that?
Asbestos is a natural substance found in rocks and soil. Due to the durability and heat resistance of mineral fibers, it can be used in various ways such as heat insulating parts of construction materials and non-combustible materials.
Exposure to asbestos can have serious adverse health effects. Exposure to asbestos may increase the chances of developing lung cancer. Mesothelioma, or cancer of the mesothelial tissue, can develop after exposure to asbestos. It may also take several years for the symptoms associated with exposure to appear.
The use of asbestos is a risk factor for developing mesothelioma. It is highly recommended to wear a face mask when working in areas exposed to asbestos.
Asbestosis, a lung disease, is not cancerous, but it is a chronic disease that is also associated with exposure to asbestos. By inhaling the fine fibers and dust of asbestos, you can damage the lung tissue. Unfortunately, it can take decades for people to notice asbestosis, a condition that is irreversible. The longer you are exposed to asbestos, the worse the effects of this disease.
What is asbestos? Why is it potentially harmful?
Smoking is not good for your health and can exacerbate the effects of exposure to asbestos. Cigarette smoke can cause problems in the passages of the lungs, making it more difficult for the lungs to get rid of the annoying fibers of asbestos.
With vigilance and appropriate precautions, you can prevent health illnesses associated with asbestos exposure. Your lung health is more important than you know.
Are all asbestos dangerous?
Despite studies that have discovered various risks associated with asbestos types, all asbestos are dangerous. Exposure to all types of asbestos can lead to cancer and other illnesses.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) does not regulate asbestos types in different ways based on perceived hazards. Evidence was submitted to OSHA to prove that chrysotile is less dangerous than other amphibole types. OSHA emphasized the decision to treat fibers as well for the following reasons:
1. Evidence shows that there is a similar correlation between the efficacy of chrysotile and amphibole in relation to lung cancer and asbestosis.
2. Evidence supporting chrysotile as less toxic than other types was primarily associated with cases of mesothelioma.
3. This evidence was unconvincing and did not justify the tight regulation of chrysotile.
The study continues to study the level of risk associated with each asbestos type.
How can people be exposed to asbestos?
Asbestos fibers can be released into the atmosphere by disturbing asbestos-containing materials during product use, demolition work, building or home maintenance, repairs, and modifications. In general, exposure can only occur if the asbestos-containing material is somehow disturbed or damaged, releasing particles and fibers into the air.
Health effects of exposure to asbestos
Exposure to asbestos increases the risk of developing lung disease. The risk is exacerbated by smoking. In general, the higher your exposure to asbestos, the more likely it is to have a detrimental effect on your health.
Symptoms of the disease can take years to develop after exposure.
Identifying asbestos-related conditions can be difficult. Health care providers usually have a thorough medical history to identify potential asbestos exposure and associated health conditions such as lung disease. This includes looking at the history of the person's medical care, work, culture and environment.
After a doctor suspects asbestos-related health, he or she can use several tools to help make the actual diagnosis. Some of these tools are physical exams, chest x-rays, and respiratory function tests. Your doctor may also refer you to a specialist who treats the illness caused by asbestos.
There are three main health effects associated with asbestos exposure:
-lung cancer
-Mesothelioma is a rare type of cancer found in the lungs, chest, abdomen, and thin lining of the heart.
-Asbestosis, severely progressive, long-term, non-cancerous disease of the lungs
