Asbestos is a tough and rubbery mineral that is in chemical nature inert with added heat defiant properties. It has been used in over a wide spec of products of more than 3,000 products, counting fire resisting materials, cement, brake pads, plastics, paper products and textile products.
Asbestos are fibrous, and naturally utilized for fire-retardant and insulated properties as construction materials. Asbestos can also be found in amphibole and serpentine forms. In fact, 95% of the asbestos mined worldwide is in a serpentine form of chrysotile type, with fibers long and curly.
There are 2 forms of very usually used Asbestos, Serpentine and Amphibole. The Serpentine range of asbestos is termed as Chrysotile, where in turn the Amphibole range contains Crocidolite, Amosite, Anthophyllite, Actinolite and Tremolite.
What are the health effects of asbestos exposure?
When a person breathes asbestos fibers, it may result in a potential health risk. Exposure to asbestos can increase the amount of fibers that remain in the lung and eventually can cause Asbestosis, lung cancer, or Mesothelioma. Smoking also increases the risk of developing illness from exposure.
Unlikable health effects from exposure to asbestos remain a serious concern to miners and mining communities. Miners and mining communities are at the greatest risk from asbestos related diseases, however, are better ready to limit their exposure to asbestos than homeowners who are unknowingly breathing in asbestos. There is a time interval of 15 to 40 years between exposure and asbestos-caused disease for both residents and miners, which often makes it hard to relay historical exposure to existing symptoms. Asbestos has a long-lasting impact for human health, both through occupational and environmental exposure.
The greater the exposure to asbestos, the greater chance of developing lung disease. Some causes are from unswerving smoking, and this makes the condition worse. Disease symptoms may take several years to develop following exposure. If you are concerned about possible exposure, consult a physician who specializes in lung diseases (pulmonologist).
Three major health effects associated with asbestos exposure
Asbestosis – this is often caused by inhaling asbestos fibers that irritate lung tissues and cause the tissue to scar. This type is severe, progressive, long-term non-cancer disease of the lungs. The scarring makes it hard for oxygen to get into the blood. Shortness of breath and a dry, crackling sound in the lungs while inhaling are the possible symptoms of asbestosis. There’s no treatment for asbestosis.
Lung Cancer – People who work in the mining, milling, manufacturing of asbestos are more likely to develop lung cancer than the general population. It is caused by a largest number of deaths related to asbestos exposure. The most common symptoms of lung cancer are coughing and a change in breathing. Other symptoms include shortness of breath, persistent chest pains, hoarseness, and anemia.
Mesothelioma – this disease is a rare form of cancer that is found in the thin lining (membrane) of the lung, chest, abdomen, and heart and almost all cases are linked to exposure to asbestos. This disease may not show up until many years after asbestos exposure. This is why great efforts are being made to prevent school children from being exposed.
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