ASBESTOS EXPOSURE RISKS
Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral composed of thin fibrous
crystals, which, due to its structural properties, is innately resistant
to heat and fire. Human use of asbestos dates back before the time of
antiquity, but it wasn’t until the late 1800s that widespread use of
asbestos was employed for insulation purposes in the United States. The
industrial revolution brought innovation and widespread application of
asbestos in industries such as construction and automotives. By the
1930s, every branch of the U.S. military was using asbestos in hundreds
of materials, especially the Navy, which found more than 300 uses for
the toxic substance. Because of its vast uses, asbestos was utilized in
the home, workplace, and community spaces.
Application of asbestos arguably flourished most in the construction
industry. Countless products used in the construction business contained
asbestos before the 1980s, when prevalent use of the caustic compound
began to fade. In fact, any structure built before the ’80s may contain
asbestos materials. Below are some possible sources of asbestos in the
home (as reported from the EPA):
- Some roofing and siding shingles (which are composed of
asbestos cement)
- Insulation (especially in homes built between 1930 and 1980)
- Textured paint and patching compounds used on wall and ceiling
joints (this specific use was banned in 1977)
- Artificial ashes and embers for use in gas-fired fireplaces
- Older products such as stove-top pads or ironing board covers
- Areas around wood burning stoves may contain asbestos paper,
millboard, or cement sheets.
- Vinyl floor tiles and the backing on vinyl sheet flooring and
adhesives
- Older houses may feature hot water and steam pipes coated with
asbestos or covered with an asbestos tape or blanket.
- Oil and coal furnaces and door gaskets (may be insulated with
asbestos)
Historical use of asbestos in the workplace is a widespread issue
that touches many industries. Many fields of work have led to asbestos
exposure, such as:
- Mining
- Shipbuilding
- Oil drilling
- Construction
- Demolition
- Home repair
- Textile manufacturing
- Electrical
- Cement manufacturing
- Locomotive
- Automotive
Due to its extensive use in construction, asbestos can be found in
community areas such as schools and older churches. Removal of asbestos
from school buildings is an option for schools, but many have opted to
manage the toxic substance and have yet to remove the material. Kept
fully intact, asbestos causes no real threat to human health. However,
if the material is damaged or disturbed, or deteriorates over time,
asbestos fibers can be released and are easily inhaled. Once the
microscopic particles are inhaled, asbestos fibers cannot be expelled or
broken down by the body. They attach to the linings of the lungs, heart,
and abdomen. Over time, these fibers can lead to the development of
illnesses such as asbestosis, lung cancer, and mesothelioma.
Mesothelioma can affect the lungs (pleural
mesothelioma), the heart (pericardial
mesothelioma) or the abdomen (peritoneal
mesothelioma).
The EPA identifies the following materials as products that commonly
contained asbestos, and notes many of these materials may still be in
use:
- o Asbestos-cement corrugated sheet
- o Asbestos-cement flat sheet
- o Pipeline wrap
- o Roofing felt
- o Vinyl-asbestos floor tile
- o Asbestos-cement shingle
- o Millboard
- o Asbestos-cement pipe
- o Vermiculite-attic insulation
- o Roof Coatings
- o Flooring Felt
- o Asbestos clothing
- o Non-roof coatings
- o Rollboard
- o Automatic transmission components
- o Clutch facings
- o Disk brake pads
- o Drum brake linings
- o Brake blocks
- o Commercial and industrial asbestos friction products
- o Sheet and beater-add gaskets
- o Commercial, corrugated, and specialty paper
For more information on For more information on the variety
of asbestos uses and
mesothelioma,
please visit
www.asbestos.com.
|
