What are the dangers of Asbestos Exposure

Large-scale use of asbestos was not prevalent by industry until the out break of the Second World War in 1939. During the 1970's the United States Consumer Product and Safety Commission issued the first laws banning the use of asbestos due to evidence that the fibres were finding their way into the environment.

Industry was faced by more tightening of the regulations in the way in which it could use asbestos after the EPA issued more laws curtailing the use of asbestos in the 1980's. The danger's that asbestos exposure can have on humans is known by almost all of the population after extensive education campaigns on the back of the laws passed in the 70's and 80's.

Asbestos bundles that occur naturally can be split into individual asbestos fibres. The reasons why asbestos was so popular with industry was that it has amazing resistance to heat and chemicals and it dose not conduct electricity. The special properties of asbestos found many uses in manufacturing and construction.

Industry thought up many uses for asbestos, including roofing tars, felts, siding, and shingles as well as mud and texture coats. If a building was built in or before the 1980's then you should assume that it contains asbestos as it's use was wide spread in the construction industry right up until it was banned. Industry can still use asbestos but only if it can be proven that it is not possible for the asbestos to come into contact with people or the environment.

The medical profession takes asbestos exposure very seriously because there are a number of possible health risks, which are untreatable with current medical technology. Inhaling asbestos fibres commonly results in asbestosis, an inflammation of the lungs caused by the asbestos fibres aggravating the lining of the lungs.

Mesothelioma is a cancer of the major organs; it is as a result of exposure to asbestos. The two common forms of the cancer are pleural mesothelioma, which affects the heart and pericardial mesothelioma, which affects the heart.

Asbestos has been used through out history; the original name came from the ancient Greeks who recognised that there were hazards associated with the material. The first diagnosis of asbestosis was made in England in 1924, by the 1930s, England regulated ventilation and made asbestosis a work related disease.

Production of asbestos in Japan peaked in 1974 and went through ups and downs until about 1990, when production began to drop severely after is was proven that asbestos was dangerous to human health. Now that the hazards of asbestos exposure are known the only legal way to use asbestos is for manufacturers to follow legal 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.

Ohio Asbestos Abatement Regulations
Ohio Asbestos Removal Siding
Operation Asbestos Flamingo
Oregon Polk County Asbestos Removal
Osha Regulation Removal Of Asbestos Tile
Outdoor Asbestos Removal
Pa Asbestos Tile Removal