Diseases caused by asbestos

Even very common today, exposure to asbestos causes severe injuries to the body. Asbestosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma are the most common diseases
The generic name of "asbestos" belongs to a group of minerals called "asbestiform". Asbestos is a fibrous material that is extracted from the serpentine stone. Basically, this stone was extracted and crushed.

When it was crushed, the asbestos fibers were extracted. These filaments were transported to factories where they were used as insulation and other materials. The three most common forms of asbestos in the manufacture of products are chrysotile, crocidolite and amosite.

Although asbestos products have not been used in buildings since about 1975, those that have already been used represent a clear risk for individuals working in the repair and demolition of structures containing asbestos.

Asbestos is the name given to six minerals extracted from the earth. The different types of asbestos are:
Amosita
Chrysolite
Tremolite
Actinolite
Antopilite
Crocidolite

Of these six, there are three that are the most used. Chololite (white) is the most common, but it is also usual to find Amosite (brown / grayish white), and Crocidolite (blue).

Asbestos fibers are virtually indestructible. They are resistant to chemicals and heat, and are very stable in the environment. They do not evaporate in the air nor dissolve in water, and do not decay with time. Asbestos is the best insulation known to man. Since asbestos has so many properties, it has been used in over 3000 different products.

Generally, asbestos is combined with other materials to form products. Tiles, for example, may contain a small part of asbestos. Depending on the product, the sum of asbestos in "asbestos-containing materials" (MCA) can range from 1% -100%.

Knowing Asbestos

Asbestos can be found in many different products in different places. Examples of products containing asbestos:

Insulation of buildings
Insulation of pipes and boilers
Insulation of ceilings and walls
Roofs
Tiles
Putties and cements
Roofing shingles
Texture of walls and ceilings in buildings and old houses.
Composed of joints in constructions and old houses.
Car brakes and clutches

It is more common to find asbestos in:

Machine rooms, Reinforced steel beams, and some roofs of old constructions.
Texas in buildings built before 1981.
Most 9-inch tiles in buildings built before 1981.
Some 12-inch tiles in buildings built before 1981.
Insulation of pipes and boilers
Interiors of fire doors

The dangers of Asbestos

The most common route by which asbestos enters the human body is respiratory. In fact, materials containing asbestos are not considered hazardous until they release dust or fibers into the air from where they can be inhaled.

Many of these fibers will be trapped in the mucous membranes of the throat and nose, where they can be removed, but some will pass into the lungs or into the digestive tract. Once trapped in the body, these fibers can cause health problems.

Asbestos is more dangerous when it is earthy. The term "earthy" means that asbestos is easily crumbly by hand, releasing harmful fibers into the air.

Tiles, tiles, gravel, etc. they will not release asbestos fibers into the air unless they are damaged in some way. If an asbestos tile is perforated or broken, for example, it can release fibers into the air. If the tile remains intact, no fibers will be released.

Damage and deterioration will increase the termination of asbestos-containing elements. Water erosion, continuous vibrations, aging, and physical impacts such as drilling, grinding, cutting, sawing or splitting can break down materials and release fibers.

Effects on health

Because they are almost impossible to destroy, asbestos fibers cannot be removed once they are deposited in the lungs or body tissues. They stay where they can get sick. There are three primary diseases associated with exposure to asbestos:

Asbestosis

Asbestosis is a scarring of the lung manifested by interstitial fibrosis. It produces short breathing and, together with mesothelioma and lung cancer, is one of the three most common causes of death among people exposed to asbestos.

Asbestosis is a serious, non-cancerous, chronic respiratory disease. Inhaled asbestos fibers irritate lung tissue, and cause scarring. The symptoms of asbestosis are shortness of breath and a crisp, dry sound produced by breathing. In its advanced stages, the disease can cause cardiac dysfunction.

There is no effective treatment for asbestosis; a disease that often leads to disability or death. The risk of contracting it is minimal for those who do not work with asbestos. Those who recycle or demolish buildings containing asbestos may be at high risk, depending on the nature of the exposure and the precautions taken.

Lung Cancer

Lung cancer is the leading cause of death among those exposed to asbestos. The incidence of lung cancer among those working in mining, milling, manufacturing and utilization of asbestos and its products is much higher than in the rest of the population. The most common symptoms are cough and changes in breathing. Other symptoms are shortness of breath, persistent chest pains, snoring, and anemia.

People who have been exposed to asbestos and are also exposed to other carcinogens (such as cigarettes) have a significantly higher risk of developing lung cancer than those who were exposed to asbestos.

One study found that smoking "asbestos workers" are 90 times more likely to get cancer than those who do not smoke or expose themselves to asbestos.

Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is a rare type of cancer that affects, most often, the lungs, chest, abdomen, and (rarely) the heart. About 200 cases a year are diagnosed in the United States. Virtually all cases of mesothelioma are linked to asbestos exposure.

Approximately 2% of all miners and textile workers working with asbestos contract mesothelioma. People working in asbestos mines, mills and factories, and shipyards, as well as those who install asbestos insulation, are at high risk for mesothelioma.

The same goes for people living with these workers, and people who are close to a source of asbestos (mines, factories, shipyards), asbestos particles are transported through the air.

Other cancers

Evidence suggests that cancers of the esophagus, larynx, oral cavity, stomach, colon, and kidney may be a consequence of asbestos intake.

Predisposing factors

Three factors seem to determine the possibility of suffering from one of these three asbestos-related diseases.

The duration of exposure: The more you have been exposed to asbestos and the more fibers you have in your body, the greater your chances of developing related problems. While there is no "safe level" in asbestos exposure, people who are exposed more frequently for prolonged periods of time are in a more critical situation.

If you are a smoker: If you smoke and have been exposed to asbestos, you have a greater chance of developing lung cancer than someone who has not smoked or been exposed. If you work or have worked with asbestos, the first thing you should do to reduce your chances of getting lung cancer is to stop smoking.

Age: There have been cases of mesothelioma in children of asbestos workers, whose only exposure has been with the dust brought home in workers' clothing. The younger the people who inhale asbestos, the greater the likelihood of developing mesothelioma.

Since each exposure increases the amount of fibers in your body, it is vital that you reduce your contact with asbestos as much as possible.

Avoid exposure

To avoid exposure to asbestos, you should be aware of the places where it is found. If you do not know if something is asbestos or not, assume it is so until you verify otherwise.

Remember that you can not tell if your floor or ceiling contains asbestos just by looking at them. Some countries have laboratories that can carry samples (tiles, for example) to determine if their composition contains asbestos and is hazardous.

If you have any reason to suspect that something has asbestos, stay away.

And never:

Drill
Hammer
cut
Serruche
Break
Damages
Move
Annoy

... any material you have, or believe you may have, asbestos.

Domestic Work

Domestic workers should never sand tiles containing asbestos. For the removal of tiles, only wet removal methods should be used. Anything in contact with the ground should be non-abrasive.

Tiles that fall and break must remain in place until analyzed. Once they have been identified, they can be removed. Asbestos tiles should be removed by specialized personnel.

Spills

It is important to report any damaged items containing asbestos. If, for example, you discover any insulation that has fallen from a ceiling or wall, this would be considered a "spill."

Therefore, it must be cleaned by qualified personnel to eliminate asbestos. Do not attempt to clean a spill. Avoid contact with the material as much as possible. Report any damaged insulation. Take measures so that others do not touch the material until specialized equipment arrives.

Knowing where the asbestos is and taking steps not to "bother" it will protect you and others from exposure to this dangerous substance.