What are the dangers of Asbestos Exposure

The Second World War can be traced back to the reason why industry suddenly began to use asbestos in large quantities. 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 EPA strengthened the laws on the use of asbestos in the 80's, banning the use of asbestos in any new use. Although there has been much publicity about asbestos and many regulations passed either banning or controlling it's use many people are unaware of how harmful asbestos can be.

Asbestos is a mineral that occurs naturally in nature in fibre bundles. Asbestos looked like the wonder product for industry because of its heat and chemical resistance. Manufacturing and construction were most willing to put asbestos to use in industry.

Asbestos was widely used in the home as well as the factory with asbestos being used in crayons as well as fire blankets. If a building was built in or before the 1980's then you should assume that it contains asbestos as it's use was wide spread in the construction industry right up until it was banned. 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.

Unfortunately, asbestos exposure can carry significant health risks, some of which are untreatable and incurable at the present time. One of the commonest ailments caused by exposure to asbestos is asbestosis, which is inflammation of the lungs caused by inhaling 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 is often found around either the heart or lungs.

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 exposure symptoms may take up to 50 years to show, it is for this reason that the medical profession took so long to links asbestos to the diseases that it causes.

Due to litigation for asbestosis or mesothelioma industry has fallen out of favour with asbestos. If legal safety standards are followed then, even though the dangers of asbestos are known it is still legal for industry to use it.

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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