Asbestos how is it harmful

In the 's and 70's loose fibre asbestos was used in some parts of NSW as home roof insulation. Breathing in asbestos fibres can cause asbestosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma. The risk of contracting these diseases increases with the number of fibres inhaled and the risk of lung cancer from inhaling asbestos fibres is also greater if you smoke.

People who get health problems from inhaling asbestos have usually been exposed to high levels of asbestos for a long time. The symptoms of these diseases do not usually appear until about 20 to 30 years after the first exposure to asbestos. Small quantities of asbestos fibres are present in the air at all times, and are being breathed by everyone without any ill effects. Most people are exposed to very small amounts of asbestos as they go about their daily lives and do not develop asbestos-related health problems.

Finding that your home or workplace is made from fibro products does not mean your health is at risk. Studies have shown that these products, if in sound condition and left undisturbed, are not a significant health risk.

While asbestos can be dangerous, it's not harmful if left alone. But if material containing asbestos is damaged, it can release a fine dust that contains asbestos fibres.

When the dust is breathed in, the asbestos fibres enter the lungs and can gradually damage them over time. But you would need long-term exposure to asbestos fibres, usually over many years, before you develop asbestosis. You may have been exposed to asbestos if you worked in an industry such as building or construction, particularly from the s to the s.

Examples include:. Breathing in asbestos fibres over many years eventually causes scarring of the lungs. In addition to lung cancer and mesothelioma, asbestos exposure can also cause cancer of the larynx and ovary.

Current evidence also suggests asbestos exposure may cause cancer of the pharynx, stomach, and colorectum. People concerned about asbestos exposure should visit their doctor or other medical provider. Preventing further harm to the respiratory system can lower the chances of disease developing or slow down progress of an existing disease.

Preventive care guidelines related to asbestos exposure include. Chrysotile asbestos is usually found as veins within serpentine rock. Mesothelioma is a type of cancer almost exclusively caused by asbestos exposure. The mineral also causes asbestos-related lung cancer, ovarian cancer and laryngeal cancer. No amount of asbestos exposure is safe, but asbestos generally has the worst effects when a person is exposed to an intense concentration of it, or they are exposed on a regular basis over a long period of time.

Asbestos accumulates in the body with every exposure, and there is no known way to reverse the damage it causes. Fibers are easily inhaled once they become airborne. It is important to avoid disturbing products that may contain asbestos.

Additionally, people who live near naturally occurring asbestos deposits should avoid disturbing soil that may be contaminated.

The majority of patients with asbestos-related diseases are men in their 60s or older. This is because asbestos-related diseases have a long latency period, often taking decades to develop. They usually trace back to occupational exposure at workplaces historically staffed by men. Regulations have reduced the risk of exposure in the workplace, but a degree of risk remains for many occupations.

The U. Family members of veterans and other asbestos industry workers also have an elevated risk of developing an asbestos-related disease because of secondhand exposure. Living in the vicinity of an asbestos-contaminated mine or processing facility puts individuals at risk of environmental exposure. Asbestos industry work sites have existed across the United States, such as in the town of Ambler, Pennsylvania, and at landmarks such as Grand Central Terminal in New York.

For example, decades of vermiculite mining near the Superfund site at Libby, Montana, caused one of the worst environmental disasters in U. The ore contained traces of asbestos that contaminated the surrounding area for miles, eventually causing the deaths of hundreds of Libby residents.

When Americans are exposed to asbestos today, it is usually through renovation or demolition work on an old building that still contains legacy asbestos products. A U. Environmental Protection Agency rule states manufacturers must seek government approval before selling discontinued uses of asbestos.

Hundreds of manufacturers used asbestos insulation in steam engines, piping and locomotives. Thousands of other uses later emerged, and companies began putting it in products such as boilers, gaskets, cement, roofing materials and automotive brake pads.

Microscopic asbestos fibers cannot be seen, smelled or tasted. Unless it is clearly marked as asbestos, the only way to detect asbestos in an unmarked material is to send a sample to a lab for testing or hire an accredited asbestos inspector. Some situations require the removal of asbestos-containing materials. But it may be safer to leave the materials undisturbed or encapsulate them with a sealant.

Consult a certified asbestos abatement professional for the best advice. Some jurisdictions allow homeowners to remove asbestos materials on their own. If you are considering DIY asbestos abatement, remember the following precautions:. Asbestos is not banned in the United States, but it is highly regulated.

The asbestos industry has powerful lobbying organizations protecting its interests. The toxic mineral is still commonly used in Russia, China, India and Mexico. Since the s, manufacturers in the United States have largely phased out the use of asbestos, relying instead on several safer substitutes.

The history of asbestos extends back to ancient times, but in the U. From the beginning of the modern asbestos industry, doctors documented the lethal effects of asbestos exposure in scattered medical reports. As early as the s, business executives also quietly researched the issue and found that asbestos exposure causes lung disease.

Asbestos companies made enormous profits by selling insulation to shipbuilders during World War II, and they expanded their business further during the postwar building boom. These companies even paid unscrupulous researchers, such as J. Wagner , who helped them deny any responsibility. However, the publication of new information about asbestos and medical evidence linking the mineral to cancer could no longer be ignored.

Labor unions began to fight back. American companies phased out most uses of asbestos in the s, but it was too late for the workers who had been handling asbestos products for decades.