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 Environmental pressure forced laws through in the 70's the constrained the use of asbestos in 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. 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.

It is a mineral that occurs naturally in fibre bundles, and the bundles can be separated into individual fibers. The reason why asbestos was so widely adopted by industry was because of the heat and chemical properties it possessed. Manufacturing was more than eager to use asbestos in its products due to its heat and chemical properties.

Asbestos has been banned from being used in auto parts such as brake pads, brake shoes and clutch plates. 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. 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.

Asbestos exposure is taken very serious, as some of the diseases associated with asbestos are untreatable. 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.

Mesothelioma is a form of cancer that is caused by asbestos; it forms around the protective lining of the bodys major organs. Symptoms of mesothelioma include weight loss and abdominal swelling and pain due to ascites (a build-up of fluid in the abdominal cavity).

History notes that Greek and roman slaves whose job it was to weave asbestos fibres into cloth often suffered from damaged lungs. 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.

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. 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.

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