Asbestos was originally a praised discovery when it was recognized for its fire and heat resistance. It was used in everything from fire-proof vests to home and commercial construction. In most cases it was put into insulation but was also woven into fabrics and sprayed onto steel to protect the structural framework of a building in case of a fire. There are six types of asbestos minerals and they are chrysotile, amosite, crocidolite, tremolite, anthophyllite, and actinolite. Although different in their chemical compositions, all six forms of asbestos are carcinogenic. A picture of the fibers under microscope is provided below.
So what are the health hazards of exposure to asbestos? When materials containing asbestos are disturbed, tiny fibers are dispersed into the air. Once air born these particles can be breathed in and become trapped in the lungs for a long period of time. These fibers can accumulate and cause scarring and inflammation affecting breathing. The two most dangerous outcomes from exposure to asbestos are asbestosis and mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that can only be caused by exposure to asbestos. Asbestos fibers lodge in the mesothelial tissue and cause cancer in the lining of the lungs. It can also form around the lining of the abdomen or heart. Mesothelioma is a very aggressive cancer and the problem is it can take anywhere from 20 to 50 years after the exposure before symptoms appear. Almost 3,000 cases of mesothelioma are diagnosed annually so it is easy to see why we needed to raise awareness and create some regulations. Hopefully overtime we will see a significant drop in this number now that we have cut out the use of asbestos in our buildings.
