What are the dangers of Asbestos Exposure

Mining and commercial use of asbestos began in the 1800s, and grew significantly during World War II. Asbestos fibres being found in the environment forced the Consumer Product and Safety Commission to issue laws controlling the use of asbestos.

Industry found that the use of asbestos was further restricted after the Environmental Protection Agency issued more laws controlling the use of asbestos in industry during the 1980's. 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. Asbestos looked like the wonder product for industry because of its heat and chemical resistance. Manufacturing was more than eager to use asbestos in its products due to its heat and chemical 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. The construction industry had many uses for asbestos and any building built before legislation banning the use of asbestos almost certainly contains asbestos. If it can be ensured that the asbestos is contained and unable to reach the outside environment then the use of asbestos is legal.

Exposure to asbestos can be fatal as there are several possible asbestos related ailments, which are incurable. Asbestosis is probably the most common asbestos related disease, it is often seen as a severe shortness of breath caused by the lining of the lings becoming inflamed by the asbestos fibres.

After Asbestosis, the second major ailment resulting from asbestos exposure is mesothelioma, this is a cancer of the lining of the major organs. Mesothelioma usually affects the lungs or the heart of the victim.

Asbestos became more widespread during the industrial revolution; in the 1860s it was used as insulation in the U.S. and Canada, this is long before the modern world recognised the hazards of 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.

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. 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.

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