Asbestos is actually a strong mineral fiber that is resistant to chemicals and heat; this quality makes it a good insulating material for use in commercial and residential structures as well as in the construction of airplanes, ships, vehicles and other appliances.
You will find the fibers of Asbestos suspended in nature – they float easily when disturbed; prolonged exposure to hazardous asbestos can result in a deadly form of cancer known as Mesothelioma. Asbestos exposure becomes too much of a concern only when high concentrations of asbestos fibers are inhaled and over a stretch of a long period. With the increase of a person’s exposure to asbestos, his/her risk of acquiring Mesothelioma also increases. One needs to note, however, that Asbestos exposure not only leads to Mesothelioma but to other life-threatening diseases like lung cancer and asbestosis.
The consequences of Asbestos exposure are dreaded because the symptoms of asbestos-related diseases usually raise their ugly head after 10 to 40 years after exposure to Asbestos. This rather protracted incubation period makes diagnosis difficult. The cases of the WTC relief-workers have been exceptions. It has been surmised that their prompt deaths have been the result of high concentrations of Asbestos.
The dangers of asbestos-exposure has made most of the jurisdictions have legislations that vehemently curb the use of asbestos.
Industrial Revolution And The Asbestos Hazard
The Industrial Revolution brought many individuals to factories, where the people had to work for long hours under unfavorable conditions. There were certain industries that affected the health of the employees, often seriously.
Late 19th Century And The Asbestos Hazard
Towards the late 19th century, the doctors were already trying to find a link between the pulmonary diseases and exposure to asbestos. At that time, however, doctors and research scientists were not aware that asbestos-related diseases could go undetected (rather, lie dormant) for a prolonged period of 40 to 50 years.
World War II And Asbestos Hazard
Towards the end of the 1930s, increasing number of workers were employed into the factories as well as the shipyards, for manufacturing and repairing the vessels and items that would later be used in the wars. The shipyard workers were exposed to huge amounts of damaged asbestos for the repair work of the vessels. The damaged asbestos sheets and items crumbled easily and released fibers in the air; the inhalation of these fibers in huge amounts over a long period of time proved to hazardous for the health of the shipyard workers.
Asbestos Hazard Today
Mesothelioma can be predominantly visible in the mechanics and other automotive repair personnel, railroad employees, power plant workers, miners, construction workers or contractors, oil refinery workers, steel mill employees, asbestos product manufacturers, firefighters and other emergency responders. Their jobs are such that these people are very much exposed to the harmful asbestos fibers.
Today, however, the bans and the warnings placed on the asbestos-products have significantly reduced risks of exposure to asbestos fibers. The asbestos hazards are still very much present, whether in the form of imported automobile brakes manufactured in countries where asbestos has not been banned or in the form of old buildings. Thus, the exposure to asbestos continues to threaten life and existence.
