What are the dangers of Asbestos Exposure

War is the mother of invention and this is born out by the sudden increase in the use of asbestos during the Second World War. Asbestos fibres being found in the environment forced the Consumer Product and Safety Commission to issue laws controlling the use of asbestos.

More laws were passed during the 80's by the EPA controlling how and where asbestos could be used by industry. If you ask people today, most of them are aware of the harmful nature of asbestos to those who are exposed to the fibres.

Asbestos fibre occurs naturally as fibre bundles and it was these that were mined to create asbestos used in industry. Asbestos looked like the wonder product for industry because of its heat and chemical resistance. Construction and manufacturing were ready willing and able to put asbestos to work in a wide variety of applications.

Industry thought up many uses for asbestos, including roofing tars, felts, siding, and shingles as well as mud and texture coats. Wall and ceiling tiles, adhesives and joining compounds all contained asbestos and were used by the construction industry up until they were banned. If it can be ensured that the asbestos is contained and unable to reach the outside environment then the use of asbestos is legal.

Asbestos exposure is taken very serious, as some of the diseases associated with asbestos are untreatable. Inhaling asbestos fibres commonly results in asbestosis, an inflammation of the lungs caused by the asbestos fibres aggravating the lining of the lungs.

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).

With centuries of the use of asbestos it may surprise many people to realise that it's health implications have only been known for a few decades. 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.

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. 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.

Asbestos O26m Plan
Asbestos Or Senate Or Reform Or Specter
Asbestos Patient Compensation
Asbestos Patient Compensation Claim
Asbestos Patient Settlement
Asbestos Pop Corn Ceiling Removal
Asbestos Popcorn Removal California