Why is asbestos so dangerous?
Asbestos only becomes dangerous when the mineral fibers break apart and become airborne. This happens as you can imagine both in the installation of a product made from asbestos and as it ages and becomes more brittle. The fibrous pieces are microscopic in size and are easily inhaled.
The issue with asbestos is its makeup. It is unbelievably resilient and because of this when the body tries to rid itself of the intruder the embedded fiber remains fairly undamaged while the lining where it has become imbedded becomes scared and begins to break down
There are approximately 3,000 different types of commercial products made that include asbestos.
The most lethal type of asbestos is the friable asbestos, because this type of asbestos crumbles and becomes airborne easily. One of the major uses of this type of asbestos is in spray on fireproofing, which has been used in millions of buildings worldwide.
Other types of asbestos are also dangerous, they just aren’t as dry and don’t break apart as easily. Other types typically become dangerous during demolition or remodel as they them become airborne.
Exposure to asbestos have been linked to asbestos poisoning, lung cancer, and mesothelioma.
What is asbestos?
Asbestos is a fibrous mineral that has been mined for over 100 years and even spoken of anciently by the Greeks. It gained its popularity because of its high resistance to heat and chemicals. It is also a very pliable mineral and can be easily woven.
These qualities made it extremely popular starting in the early days of the industrial revolution and continued into the 1900’s. It’s most popular uses are building materials such as shingles, floor and ceiling tiles, cement and paper products, coatings and in the automotive industry for automotive parts such as clutches, brake pads and transmissions.
Is Asbestos Still used?
Surprisingly enough asbestos use in the US has never been banned.
Although in 1976 congress did pass a law regulating toxic substances that included asbestos. This law, known as the Toxic Substances Control Act, has helped to regulate the uses and work environment associated with asbestos, but did not go so far as to ban the substance.
The EPA In 1989 did try to “regulate” it into complete extinction but failed when two years later, a New Orleans circuit court of appeal overturned the regulations. Currently how the law stands, asbestos can be used as it has previously but cannot be used in creating any “new” products.
It is interesting to note that a great number of industrialized nations have banned asbestos these include the European Union and a handful of other countries, such as Chile, Croatia, Australia, Argentina, and Saudi Arabia.
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