How Might I Be Exposed To Asbestos? Asbestos occurs naturally in the environment as well as in products that are in our homes, workplaces, schools and other locations. Although asbestos containing products constantly surround people, it does not always pose a health risk. The people at greatest risk for exposure to asbestos will be workers in industries that deal with asbestos on a regular basis, but there are frequently news stories involving released asbestos fibers in communities, schools, construction sites and other locations.
Unless a material is disrupted or renovations are planned that would release the asbestos fibers, asbestos hazards are not great. People must be very conscious of the wearing down of any products that do contain asbestos so that it can be properly repaired or replaced by a certified hazardous material contractor. Once asbestos becomes airborne, the fibers remain forever because they do not dissolve in water or evaporate, and they are resistant to heat, fire, chemical and biological degradation.
The asbestos fibers breathed in will be deposited in the air passages and on the cells that make up your lungs. While some asbestos fibers will leave the body through phlegm and mucus, some fibers move through the lungs and can remain for years or forever. Certain types of asbestos fibers stay longer in the lungs, like the amphibole asbestos fibers.
Asbestos fibers swallowed from asbestos dust that falls, or if asbestos fibers are present in water, will mostly pass along the intestines within a few days and be excreted out. In the past, workers unaware of the dangers of asbestos would eat their lunches and drink beverages in heavily contaminated areas. Some of the asbestos fibers can penetrate into cells that line the stomach or intestines, especially workers and mining communities that were heavily exposed to asbestos. The ingested asbestos fibers can sometimes even become trapped in other tissues.
Beginning in the late 1800s, asbestos was mined and used commercially in North America, with its uses greatly increasing during World War II. Used in many industries since then, asbestos was used heavily in the building and construction industry for strengthening cement and plastics and in insulation, fireproofing and sound absorption. The shipbuilding industry used asbestos to insulate boilers, steampipes and hot water pipes, and the automotive industry uses asbestos in vehicle brakeshoes and clutch pads. More than 5,000 products contain or have contained asbestos, and the people at greatest risk for asbestos exposure were the former and current workers of the industries.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission banned the use of asbestos in the wallboard patching compounds and fireplaces in the late 1970s because of the asbestos fibers released when the products were used. By 1989, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency banned all new uses of asbestos, though uses established prior to 1989 are still allowed, so people come into contact and live among products containing asbestos on a regular basis.
In order to reduce children’s exposure to asbestos in schools, the EPA has established regulations requiring school systems to inspect for damaged asbestos and to eliminate or reduce the exposure to occupants by removing or encasing the asbestos. Although this was intended to keep schools free of asbestos dangers, with the high number of schools around the country it can be difficult to make sure these laws are being properly followed. By becoming educated about asbestos dangers, people can better prevent future exposure to the dangerous mineral fiber.
Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that can result from asbestos exposure. There is no cure for mesothelioma, and the risk for developing mesothelioma is not only confined to the individual directly exposed to asbestos, but also to people that come into direct contact with the patient. The asbestos health hazards have been described as a public health problem, but companies have been pushing for action from Congress to curb the lawsuits that have targeted companies that used asbestos by victims and families of deceased victims of asbestos related illnesses.
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