What are the dangers of Asbestos Exposure

War during 1939-1945 was the driving force for the sudden and vast increase in the use of asbestos. Looking back it was the 70's when the first laws controlling the use of asbestos began to reduce its use by industry.

The 1980's saw the Environmental Protection Agency take asbestos to task and issued laws stating that asbestos could only be used in uses, which it could be proven that asbestos had been used prior to the laws being passed. Most people today in the 21's century are aware of how harmful asbestos is to them if they are exposed to it and breath in the fibres. The message that asbestos is dangerous has been instilled in most people and they are aware that they should not inhale asbestos fibres.

Asbestos occurs naturally as a mineral that is mined and processed into asbestos. Asbestos looked like the wonder product for industry because of its heat and chemical resistance. The wide spread use of asbestos was because of the almost magical properties it possessed, gaining it many uses in manufacturing.

Stage curtains, caulk, joint compound as well as less obvious uses such as crayons are just some of the uses for asbestos. The banning of the use of asbestos put pained to it's use in the construction industry but up until this time it was widely used for joint compound, sound proofing an well as wall and ceiling tiles. There are legal uses of asbestos, where it can be proven that asbestos will not be able to contaminate the environment then that use is considered legal.

Exposure to asbestos is serious; the health risks associated with asbestos are high because some of the illnesses caused by asbestos are incurable. Inhaling asbestos fibres commonly results in asbestosis, an inflammation of the lungs caused by the asbestos fibres aggravating the lining of the lungs.

Another source of asbestos litigation is for mesothelioma, which is a cancer that develops in the protective lining of the body's major organs. Mesothelioma usually affects the lungs or the heart of the victim.

The legal and medical professions have in the last 30 years come to realise and legislate on asbestos. Asbestos disease can take several decades after the initial exposure to finally appear in the victim; it is for this reason that it took medical professions many years to establish the link between asbestos and the diseases that it is responsible for.

Due to litigation for asbestosis or mesothelioma industry has fallen out of favour with asbestos. 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.

Navy Va Asbestos Exposure
Nevada Asbestos Abatement Contractors
New Jersey Regulation Removal Of Asbestos Siding
New Jersey Removal Of Asbestos Siding
New York Approved Asbestos Removal Companies
Njdol 10 Day Notification Asbestos Abatement
North Carolina Certified Asbestos Removal