What is Asbestos and How Exposure is Hazardous to Your Health

Wednesday, August 31, 2011
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Asbestos is a silicate mineral that naturally occurs and has the appearance of crystals with separable long fibers. It is inextinguishable and flexible so it became widely made use of as insulation and other items that call for resistance to heat, low conductivity to electricity, and high tensile strength. It is highly toxic and hazardous to wellness. Prolonged exposure to asbestos can trigger individuals to develop significant diseases such as mesothelioma, asbestosis, and lung cancer. There is some evidence that links asbestos exposure to cancers of the esophagus, throat, kidneys, gallbladder, intestines, and colon.

Mesothelioma is a rare kind of cancer typically brought on by prolonged and heavy exposure to asbestos. Asbestosis is a disorder of the respiratory technique quite often characterized by scars in lung tissues. Lung cancer is a condition not directly brought on by asbestos inhalation but can be aggravated when combined with smoking.

Asbestos is not man-produced substance but a naturally-occurring mineral located in practically all continents about the world. It is still mined in many countries like Canada and Russia. Other countries have completely banned the mining of asbestos due to its lethal effects to humans.

Prior to the US government has regulated use of asbestos, the mineral has been widely used in commercial merchandise like: building insulation, vinyl flooring, cement, ceiling tiles, roofing tiles, caulk, textiles, and brake shores. Asbestos is present in the environment at extremely low levels and becomes highly hazardous in concentrated levels typically located in the workplace. Thus, people who are most likely to suffer from severe illnesses caused by asbestos are working in high-risk occupations involved in the following: construction and constructing function, shipbuilding, auto mechanics, demolition function, dry walling, firefighting, and textiles. These days, the OSHA (Occupational Safety and Well being Administration) ensures that workers are provided with protective gears and masks to reduce risk of exposure to asbestos.

Symptoms of illnesses related to asbestos commonly appear following numerous decades, about 30 to 50 years or so. Depending on the spread and condition of the disease, symptoms could possibly consist of: chest discomfort, swelling, coughing, hoarseness, breathing difficulties, loss of appetite, weight loss, and fatigue. People who develop any of these symptoms and have history of asbestos exposure must seek medical help right away.

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