| The hazards of asbestos |
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| Local Content - Local News |
| Written by publisher |
| Tuesday, 02 March 2010 21:24 |
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By Marcia Love Asbestos was widely used in construction because of its reinforcing, insulating and fire-proofing qualities. When tightly enclosed in a product, such as in asbestos siding or floor tiling, asbestos poses no significant health risks. It only poses health risks when fibres are present in the air people breathe. The effects of asbestos exposure depend on the concentration of asbestos fibres in the air, length and frequency of exposure, size of asbestos fibres inhaled and amount of time since the initial exposure. When inhaled in significant quantities, asbestos fibres can cause asbestosis, which is a scarring of the lungs that can make breathing difficult. It can also cause mesothelioma, a rare cancer of the lining of the chest or abdominal cavity, as well as causing lung cancer. The amount of asbestos in a product does not indicate its health risk. One of the main problems with asbestos is from sprayed or easily broken up amphibole asbestos, which was used in buildings until the late 1970s. Amphibole asbestos contains more iron and has been used in industrial furnaces and heating systems because of its resistance to acid and extremely high temperatures. Low levels of asbestos fibres are found in soil, water and air, both from naturally and man-made sources. Asbestos was popularly used in insulation board, asbestos cement and floor and ceiling tiles for home and building construction. These products do not release a significant amount of asbestos fibres unless the product is cut or damaged, or if friable asbestos materials are disturbed. |
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