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 popularity of asbestos took a sudden dive when laws were passed in the 1970's in the USA that stopped the use of asbestos in certain consumer products.

In the 1980s, the Environmental Protection Agency added to those laws by banning any new uses for it, although laws still allowed for the use of it in any way that existed prior to that time. Many people remain ignorant today on how dangerous asbestos is to people and the environment.

It is a mineral that occurs naturally in fibre bundles, and the bundles can be separated into individual fibers. It is the resistance to heat and chemicals that make asbestos so appealing to industry. Adoption of the use of asbestos was wide spread in many industries eager make use of it's special properties.

Asbestos products include brake shoes and clutch pads for automobiles, insulation for boilers and steam pipes on ships, and strengthening agents for cement and talc-based crayons. In the construction industry, asbestos fibers are used in ceiling tiles; paint that is lead based, plastics, adhesives, soundproofing material and insulation. Asbestos is legal if it can be proven that its use will not harm humans or the environment.

Asbestos exposure is taken very serious, as some of the diseases associated with asbestos are untreatable. One of the commonest ailments caused by exposure to asbestos is asbestosis, which is inflammation of the lungs caused by inhaling asbestos fibres.

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).

It is only in the last 3 decades that it has become apparent the effects on peoples health that asbestos causes. In the late 1970s court documents proved that asbestos industry officials knew of the dangers of asbestos exposure and tried to conceal them.

As asbestos litigation becomes more common, the use of this substance has, in most applications, declined. Follow the right safety guidelines and it is legal for manufacturers to use asbestos.

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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