Asbestos is a group of six naturally occurring minerals made up of heat-resistant fibers. It was used in thousands of U.S. consumer products before the dangers of asbestos were known. Asbestos causes mesothelioma, lung cancer and other cancers. Asbestos is regulated in the U.S., but not banned.
Written byMichelle WhitmerEdited ByWalter PachecoScientifically Reviewed ByDiana Zuckerman, Ph.D.
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Whitmer, M. (2023, March 13).Asbestos.Asbestos.com. Retrieved April 13, 2023, from //www.magnakarsa.com/asbestos/
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Whitmer, Michelle. "Asbestos." Asbestos.com. Last modified March 13, 2023. //www.magnakarsa.com/asbestos/.
Asbestos is a carcinogenic mineral. It consists of flexible fibers resistant to heat, electricity and corrosion. These qualities make the mineral useful in many products. They also contribute to asbestos exposure toxicity.
Construction materials contained asbestos because it is an effective insulator. Asbestos in cloth, paper, cement, plastic and other materials makes them stronger. Inhaling or ingesting asbestos causes fibers to become trapped in the body. Over decades, trapped asbestos fibers can cause inflammation, scarring and cancer.
Mesotheliomais almost exclusively caused by asbestos exposure. Asbestos also causes a progressive lung disease calledasbestosis.
The Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act of 1986 legally recognizes six types of asbestos. These fall into two categories: Amphibole and serpentine.
Amphibole asbestos fibers are straight and jagged.
Serpentine asbestos fibers are curly. Chrysotile, also known as “white asbestos,” is the only form of this type of asbestos.
Asbestos mainly comes from Russia, Kazakhstan and China. The toxic mineral was once mined throughout North America.
Most commercial asbestos deposits contain 5% to 6% asbestos. Some deposits, such as the Coalinga deposit in California, contain 50% or more asbestos.
Scientific studies link asbestos exposure to several diseases, including cancers.
Mesothelioma is a type of cancer almost only caused by asbestos exposure. Asbestos also causes asbestos-related lung cancer, ovarian cancer and laryngeal cancer.
The highest asbestos exposure risk is through occupational exposure to the toxic mineral. These exposures are highest a blue-collar jobs. Schools, older homes, and the military also pose a risk of exposure.
People who live with workers who handle asbestos products may risk secondhand exposure.
The Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry detailed exposure between 1940 and 1979. Its records showed about 27 million workers were exposed to aerosolized asbestos products. Now, about 1.3 million construction and industry workers remain at risk.
Regulations have reduced the risk of exposure in the workplace. A degree of risk remains for many occupations. But certain jobs still present a serious risk of exposure to asbestos today.
| Historically High Risk | Still High Risk |
|---|---|
| Mining | Automative Repair |
| Construction | Chloralkali Production |
| Manufacturing | Building and Equipment Maintenance |
| Shipbuilding | Renovation and Demolition |
| Electricity Generation | Firefighting |
| Heavy Industry | Sheet Gasket Use |
| Military Service | Oilfield Brake Block Repair |
The U.S. military used asbestos from the 1930s to the 1970s. Asbestos was especially common on Navy ships. Its use caused veterans to develop the bulk of asbestos-related diseases.
Family members of veterans and other asbestos industry workers also risksecondhand exposure. This type of exposure occurs when workers bring home fibers on hair, skin or clothes.
我住在一个附近asbestos-contaminated或过程ssing facility risks environmental exposure. Asbestos industry work sites have existed across the United States. One notable landmark is Grand Central Terminal in New York.
One of the worst environmental disasters in U.S. history is theSuperfund siteat Libby, Montana. Vermiculite mining contained traces of asbestos that contaminated the surrounding area for miles. This led to the deaths of hundreds of Libby residents.
Products found in renovation or demolition work cause the most exposure. Old buildings that contain legacy asbestos products pose the largest risk.
A2019 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency rulestates manufacturers must seek government approval before selling discontinued uses of asbestos.
Hundreds of manufacturers used asbestos insulation in steam engines, piping and locomotives. Thousands of other uses emerged later. Asbestos became common in boilers, gaskets, cement, roofing materials and automotive brake pads.
The only way to identify asbestos is through lab testing or professional inspection. Microscopic asbestos fibers have no smell or taste.
Asbestos materials fall into two risk categories:
某些情况下需要移除asbestos-containing materials. But it may be safer to leave the materials undisturbed or encapsulate them with a sealant. Consult a certified, local asbestos abatement professional for the best advice.
Some jurisdictions allow homeowners to remove asbestos materials on their own. Follow these precautions if you are considering DIY asbestos abatement:
Asbestos is not banned in the United States. But it ishighly regulated. The asbestos industry haspowerful lobbying organizationsprotecting its profits. Russia, China, India and Mexico still use the toxic mineral.
U.S. manufacturers have phased out the use of asbestos. They now rely on several safer substitutes.
The history of asbestos extends back to ancient times. In the U.S., the toxic mineral had its heyday in the middle decades of the 20th century.
Since the asbestos industry began, doctors documented the lethal effects of asbestos exposure. As early as the 1930s, businesses hid that asbestos exposure causes lung disease.
Asbestos companies profited by selling insulation to shipbuilders during World War II. They expanded their business further during the postwar building boom. These companies paid unscrupulous researchers, such as J.C. Wagner, to deny responsibility.
Phasing out asbestos began when significant medical evidence linked asbestos to cancer.Labor unionsbegan to fight back. American companies phased out most uses of asbestos in the 1980s. By then, it was too late for the workers who had been already handling asbestos products for decades.
Hundreds of thousands of patients and families have filed asbestos lawsuits. These claims provide much-neededcompensationto cover medical bills and lost wages.
Family members who develop mesothelioma through secondhand exposure may file a legal claim. People with mesothelioma may also file a claim against an asbestos trust fund.
These claims hold the asbestos industry liable for the harm they’ve caused. They covered up evidence of asbestos’ health effects. For years, they continued exposing workers and consumers.
You should see a doctor if you start to develop any symptoms. Tell your doctor about your history of asbestos exposure. Ask them to screen you for related diseases. After a mesothelioma diagnosis, get a second opinion from amesothelioma doctor.
You are eligible forcompensationif you develop mesothelioma, lung cancer or asbestosis from asbestos exposure.
石棉是危险的,因为它会导致癌症和pulmonary diseases. Long-term exposure creates a risk of mesothelioma, lung, laryngeal and ovarian cancer. Some people develop asbestosis, which involves progressive scarring of lung tissue. These conditions usually develop decades after exposure first began.
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