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 Asbestos became a hot topic during the 1970's in the US when evidence of asbestos appearing in the environment caused legislation to control it's use in industry came into force.

During the 1980's the EPA added to the laws issued by the Consumer Product and Safety Commission by passing laws stating that asbestos could not be used for any use which it had not been put to up until that time. Mounting environmental pressure forced people to become better educated about the effects and harm that asbestos poses.

Asbestos bundles that occur naturally can be split into individual asbestos fibres. 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.

Asbestos has been banned from being used in auto parts such as brake pads, brake shoes and clutch plates. The construction industry used asbestos as a fire retardant as well as a sound proofing material. It is legal to use asbestos in ways where it is guaranteed that they cannot come into contact with humans or animals.

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.

Mesothelioma is often reported as a disease resulting from asbestos exposure that is listed in many asbestos litigation cases. 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 using asbestos although well known now have only been around since the 1970's. Because symptoms of exposure can take 10 to 50 years to show up, it took medical professionals a great deal of time to connect the disease to it.

In 1984, the import of raw amphibole (blue and brown) asbestos into New Zealand was banned. In 2002 the import of chrysotile (white) asbestos was banned. The British Government's Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has promoted rigorous controls on asbestos handling, because of many reports linking exposure to asbestos dust or fibres with thousands of annual deaths.

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.

Asbestos Insulation From Lady Liberty
Asbestos Insulation Pictures
Asbestos Law Ny Removal
Asbestos Lawsuits Against Asarco
Asbestos Lawyer Personal Injury Settlement Persona
Asbestos Lawyer Structured Settlement
Asbestos Lawyers Albuquerque