Asbestos - Don't Die Of Fright!

by Niall Evans

Asbestos generates a lot of fear, much of it, although genuine and understandable, is unwarranted. On the other hand, some people ignore the risks problem. Much is said and written about asbestos - here are the facts.

Asbestos can kill, but only in the right (!) circumstances

Asbestos is a very hazardous material, but it is only risk to health when the asbestos fibres become airborne, are inhaled and are deposited in your lungs. So, asbestos materials that are undamaged and undisturbed are not a risk.

If the fibres do get into the atmosphere in significant quantities they are a serious health risk. Inhalation of asbestos fibres can lead to serious diseases such as lung cancer, mesothelioma (a cancer of the lining of the chest and abdomen) and asbestosis (a chronic fibrosis of the lungs). In the past, several industries generated high levels of asbestos fibre in the air. As a result, there are many cases of disease, and many deaths – at least 3500 deaths a year in the UK at present.

Asbestos

Jason Gluckman

Asbestos, a naturally occurring complex silicate, was extensively used in many industries, including insulation in ship building, manufacture of brake linings, and automobiles. Asbestos is a common name given to a group of six fibrous minerals which have their existence in two general forms, friable and non-friable. The friable Asbestos gets crumbled to its most hazardous powder form even on the application of hand pressure. It is comparatively difficult to crumble non-friable Asbestos to powder form. However, in a highly damaged condition, non-friable Asbestos gets crumbled to powder on application of even minimal pressure. The dry powders of non-friable Asbestos or friable Asbestos are hazardous to human health, and therefore are required to be handled with caution, packaged with care and disposed of with conformity.

In recent times, in the United States, strict measures have been taken for the preventive control of exposure of these hazardous materials to the industrial workers. Workplace exposure limits for Asbestos fibers longer than 5 micrometers have been set. It should, however, be considered that Asbestos, being a carcinogen in humans, has no safe level of exposure.

The toxic effects induced by Asbestos inhalation include desquamating alveolitis, bronchiolitis, and pulmonary fibrosis. Other more serious health ailments caused by Asbestos exposure include pleural effusion, pleural plaques, pleural calcification, and mesothelioma (a highly malignant disease).

Asbestos lawyers are the lawyers that specialize in the cases dealing specifically with the hazardous effects induced by Asbestos exposure. They work in the area of law and bring home justice in the form of compensation to those who have damaged their health, because of Asbestos in the present and/or past environment. Asbestos litigation is a multi-billion dollar industry of lawyers and law firms specializes in provision of compensation to people suffering/suffered from mesothelioma and/or other serious Asbestos-related health ailments.

Since recent times, this element of danger has always been the target of benefit by the fraudulent people with interest in monetary gain by wrong means. However, not all cases filed in law are unreal, and not all provided with compensation are undeserving.

Asbestos provides detailed information about asbestos, asbestos and mesothelioma, asbestos cancer, asbestos exposure and more. Asbestos is the sister site of Malignant Mesothelioma.

Because asbestos was used so widely in buildings, there are groups of people who may still be exposed to fibres – but usually at lower concentrations than the older industries. These groups include tradesmen such as plumbers and electricians, and other building and maintenance workers. They are exposed to asbestos when they accidentally disturb asbestos fibres during their normal work.

Diseases caused by asbestos

Cancers

Mesothelioma is a cancer of the chest and abdominal lining. Almost all cases are caused by asbestos. It is always fatal. Mesothelioma takes a long time to develop, from the time of first exposure to development of the disease (known as its latency period): between 15 and 60 years. Exposure to high levels for long periods is not necessary, but the risk increases with higher and longer exposures. It is caused by the brown and blue asbestos, but not by white asbestos.

Lung Cancer

Lung Cancer caused by asbestos is identical to that caused by smoking. People who smoke and are exposed to asbestos run an even higher risk. The latency period is usually at least 20 years. It can be caused by any asbestos fibre, but the risk is higher from brown and blue asbestos.

Other lung diseases

Asbestosis is a disease which causes scarring of the lung tissue - fibrosis. The tissue becomes leathery and less flexible. The lungs’ is less able to absorb oxygen from the air and pass it into the blood. Breathing becomes more difficult and the disease progresses over the years. It is sometimes quoted as an underlying cause of death when a sufferer dies. Latency period is about 15 to 30 years.

Pleural plaques or diffuse pleural thickening is a scarring of the chest lining. It can be seen on X-rays but does not cause noticeable symptoms. There is no know connection between pleural plaques and other asbestos diseases, but it is used as a marker of asbestos exposure.

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About the Author:

Niall Evans is a health and safety professional in the UK. http://www.clickforhealthandsafety.com/Asbestos-Dont-Die-Of-Fright.html

Source: www.isnare.com

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