What are the dangers of Asbestos Exposure

The Second World War was the time when asbestos was used the most by industry since it's introduction in the 19th century. 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.

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. Despite all the attention asbestos has received over the years there are a surprising number of people who have no idea how harmful the fibre can be to humans.

Asbestos bundles that occur naturally can be split into individual asbestos fibres. The reason why asbestos was so widely adopted by industry was because of the heat and chemical properties it possessed. Construction and manufacturing were ready willing and able to put asbestos to work in a wide variety of applications.

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. The construction industry used asbestos as a fire retardant as well as a sound proofing material. 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.

After Asbestosis, the second major ailment resulting from asbestos exposure is mesothelioma, this is a cancer of the lining of the major organs. Pleural mesothelioma is a cancer that affects the lining of the lungs, pericardial mesothelioma 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. It can take up to 50 years for mesothelioma or asbestosis to become apparent in the victim; this is the reason why it has taken so long for the link between the diseases and asbestos to be made.

As the level of litigation for compensation for asbestos exposure increased, its use has reduced dramatically. Despite knowing g the risks of asbestos it is still legal if the right safety guidelines are followed.

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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