What are the dangers of Asbestos Exposure

Industry first began to use asbestos during the 19th century and its use rose substantially during the period of the Second World The United States was the first country to issue laws banning the use of asbestos after irrefutable evidence came to light that asbestos was finding it's way into the environment.

The EPA strengthened the laws on the use of asbestos in the 80's, banning the use of asbestos in any new use. If you ask people today, most of them are aware of the harmful nature of asbestos to those who are exposed to the fibres.

It is a mineral that occurs naturally in fibre bundles, and the bundles can be separated into individual fibers. Asbestos has amazing fire and chemical resistance, coupled with the fact that it is not a conductor of electricity. Construction and manufacturing were ready willing and able to put asbestos to work in a wide variety of applications.

The list of uses for asbestos goes on and on but here are a few of the more well known uses it was put to vinyl floor tiles, sheeting, adhesives, clutch plates and stage curtains. The construction industry found many uses for asbestos, as tiles, in paints and adhesive. Asbestos is legal if it can be proven that its use will not harm humans or the environment.

Exposure to asbestos can be fatal as there are several possible asbestos related ailments, which are incurable. One of the best-known asbestos diseases is asbestosis, often called asbestos lung, which leads to shortness of breath and lung damage.

A less commonly known ailment of asbestos is mesothelioma; it is a cancer caused by exposure to asbestos that effect the major organs of the body. Symptoms of mesothelioma include weight loss and abdominal swelling and pain due to ascites (a build-up of fluid in the abdominal cavity).

The health hazards of asbestos have only been realised in the last 30 years by the legal and medical profession. In the late 1970s court documents proved that asbestos industry officials knew of the dangers of asbestos exposure and tried to conceal them.

Asbestos has been in a marked decline as soon as victims of asbestos exposure began to take legal action for compensation. Asbestos fibers are still legal, despite the hazards of exposure, only if manufacturers follow all legally required safety standards.

The author of this web articles has written many other articles about asbestos. If you are interested you can find links to some of their other work below.

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