5 Frequently Asked Questions about Asbestos

Hazardous materials can be silent killers, almost every household or workplace contains various harmful substances therefore it is important to have the basic knowledge of these contaminants, where to find them, and what to do if exposed. Asbestos is a natural occurring mineral that is used in a number of different materials. Asbestos is not a concern if left undisturbed; however renovation, reconstruction or demolition can disturb these materials and release asbestos fibers into the air. Asbestos fibers can be inhaled and become trapped in lung tissue which increases the risk for several serious diseases. Asbestos is a well recognized health hazard and is highly regulated.

Asbestos in the home can be very dangerous. It is very common for homes built or remodeled before the 1970’s to have asbestos-containing materials in them. During the twentieth century, about 30 million tons of asbestos fibers were used in the United States, and some of this asbestos ended up in residential buildings. If you have purchased a home or are considering the purchase of one, the presence of asbestos is nor necessarily a problem. The majority of individuals with asbestos related diseases have been in the business of manufacturing, installing and/or removing asbestos products. Fortunately, most people exposed to small amounts of asbestos do not develop asbestos related health problems. However, there is no known “safe” level of exposure, therefore, all exposure to asbestos should be avoided.

The second important reason asbestos materials must be removed is safety. If you leave materials containing asbestos, whether next year, twenty years or hundred years, eventually the problem of the asbestos material will have to be addressed. The material can be merely covered, but eventually every home needs repair, and building supplies replaced. If the building burns, or collapses, there is a significant risk of exposure to the people who live in the home and to all the firefighters and paramedics. A good but tragic example is the many firefighters and other first

According to the CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention), exposure to asbestos increases the risk of developing malignant Mesothelioma. The latency period for the disease is

Asbestos is made up of six different minerals and is a naturally forming substance. As it forms, fibres develop that can be transformed into durable, thin threads for use in industrial, commercial and even domestic applications. For example, the construction industry has used asbestos in insulation, as a cement strengthener, fireproofing and roofing. Over the years, it became evident how risky asbestos exposure is to your health as people developed the life-threatening form of Mesothelioma that could be traced back to this exposure.

Asbestos has been being used in the construction industry for decades. It dates back all the way to the Ancient Egyptians and Ancient Greeks. Asbestos is a natural occurring mineral made up of six sets of fibrous mineral: chrysotile, crocidolite, amosite, anthophyllite, tremolite and actinolite. Asbestos is a compound that is very versatile. In the 1800s, during the Industrial Revolution, asbestos was being widely used throughout companies for various reasons. Companies like Ford Motor Company, General Electric, General Motors, and Mobil Oil Corporation were all companies using asbestos in their products. Companies used this fibrous mineral as a insular in houses, schools, steam engines, fire-proof ocean vessels, and even in the brakes of automobiles. Construction workers can become deathly ill after long-term exposure to this mineral.

“Asbestos can be found in many homes, schools, and workplaces, and if it is not handled properly it poses a serious health risk,” Healey said. “Too often, children, families, and workers are exposed to airborne asbestos fibers due to shoddy or unlicensed work, and many aren’t aware of the serious

It has been known for years that asbestos is harmful to humans and mesothelioma is preventable. Despite this knowledge, thousands of Americans have suffered from the damaging effects of asbestos exposure. Before getting into the details of mesothelioma, it is critical for you to know that if you

People working in mining, plumbing, insulating and electronic are at risk. Asbestos are made of up fibers found in soil and rock which when inhaled cause inflammation and alveolitis. The macrophages that release, “toxic oxygen free radicals and cause cellular apoptosis, leading to both fibrosis and malignancy” (McCance & Huether, 2014).

If you live in an older home, you may be concerned it has asbestos in it somewhere. Asbestos is rarely used today, but at one time it was used in floor tiles, siding, roofing, and insulation. While asbestos-containing materials are labeled today, older materials were not labeled, so they are not easy to identify. In fact, you can't tell by looking if a material contains asbestos. The only way you'll know is if you have it inspected by a professional. Here are a few things to know about having an asbestos inspection.

Because lawyers were able to recruit huge number of claimants,66 through 2002, it was estimated that 730,000 of the individuals who were exposed to asbestos, have brought claims against more than 8400 companies. Consequently, companies have spent $70 billion on these claims, and costs are expected to triple or even quadruple (up to $210 billion). The number of firms involved in asbestos litigations increased from 300 firms in 1982 to more than 6,000 in 2000.67 There are at least 300,000 asbestos claims pending nationwide,68 and therefore, there is a serious concern that funds will dry up quickly and future claimants will not be sufficiently compensated.67 The vast majority of these claims are coming from plaintiffs who have no impairment, because they are subject to statutes of limitations that begin when they discover evidence of asbestos exposure. These huge number of claims are exhausting a considerable money and court’s time and forcing firms into bankruptcy.69 Second-hand asbestos exposure claims, also known as take-home claims, are now an increasingly growing issue too.70 Examples of these claims involved wives who laundered their husbands’ clothes that were contaminated with asbestos from work sites for many years resulting in mesothelioma.71,72 In an attempt to plan for future litigation, there were several attempts to estimate future impact of asbestos exposure on the morbidity and mortality of the population exposed, however, future projections are challenging for several reasons. First, injuries that have occurred in the past due to asbestos exposure were rarely documented, second, the latency period between exposure and occurrence of symptoms is several decades. In addition, mesothelioma was not

Asbestos, a group of silicate minerals, was used as an insulative building material in the United Kingdom before it was completely ban in 1999. When left unaltered, it presents no health risk, but if disturbed, particles can become airborne and potentially be inhaled. For example, falling ceiling tiles that contain asbestos in a classroom could expose

When left untouched and undamaged asbestos is generally safe, significant health risks arise when the material the asbestos is

Asbestos is not dangerous unless it is disturbed. If it is disturbed, then the fibers will be released into the air. The particles can be inhaled, which can create many health problems.

Exposure to asbestos can cause life-threatening illnesses such as mesothelioma, lung cancer, pleural calcification, and pulmonary fibrosis. Asbestos is known for it's incredible strength and fire resistance. When asbestos fibers enter the body by inhalation or ingestion, they settle in vulnerable tissues, inflaming the surrounding area and leads to health problems. Military veterans, Construction Workers, and Firefighters are faced with increased risks for asbestos exposure; affecting their immune system, respiratory system and liver (Sokolove, 2015).