Asbestos

Asbestos refers to a group of minerals that occur naturally as masses of strong, flexible fibers that can be separated into thin threads and woven. Asbestos fibers, including Chrysotile asbestos, are not affected by heat or chemicals, do not conduct electricity, and therefore has been widely used in many industries. However, asbestos fiber masses tend to break easily into a dust composed of tiny particles that can float in the air and stick to clothes. The fibers may be easily inhaled or swallowed and exposure to asbestos has been shown to cause serious health problems including pleural mesothelioma.

Asbestos Exposure

Exposure to asbestos may increase the risk of several serious diseases:

  • Asbestosis - a chronic lung ailment that can produce shortness of breath, coughing, and permanent lung damage;
  • Lung cancer;
  • Mesothelioma - a relatively rare cancer of the thin membranes that lines the chest and abdomen Mesothelioma pleural mesothelioma
  • Asbestos Cancer - Cancer of the larynx, oropharynx, gastrointestinal tract, and kidney.

How was asbestos used?

Asbestos has been mined and used commercially in North America since the late 1800s, but its use increased greatly during World War II. Since then, asbestos has been used in many industries. For example, the building and construction industry uses asbestos for strengthening cement and plastics as well as for insulation, fireproofing, and sound absorption. The shipbuilding industry has used asbestos to insulate boilers, steampipes, and hot water pipes. The automotive industry uses asbestos in vehicle brakeshoes and clutch pads. More than 5,000 products contain or have contained asbestos.

Products containing Asbestos:

  • cement sheet and pipe products used for water supply and sewage piping
  • roofing and siding
  • casings for electrical wires
  • fire protection material
  • electrical switchboards and components
  • clutch facings
  • brake linings for automobiles
  • gaskets
  • heat-protective mats
  • heat and electrical wire insulation
  • industrial filters for beverages
  • material for sheet flooring
  • roofing materials
  • heat- and fire-resistant fabrics (including blankets and curtains)
  • ceiling and floor tile

In the late 1970s, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission banned the use of asbestos in wallboard patching compounds and gas fireplaces because these products released excessive amounts of asbestos fibers into the environment. Additionally, asbestos was voluntarily withdrawn by manufacturers of electric hair dryers. In 1989, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) banned all new uses of asbestos; uses established prior to 1989 are still allowed. The EPA has established regulations that require school systems to inspect for damaged asbestos and to eliminate or reduce the exposure by removing the asbestos or by covering it up.

Mesothelioma Resource Center