Asbestos what is it

Asbestos was widely used in a large variety of construction materials for a number of purposes e. A detailed survey will be required to identify where asbestos is present in your building. An asbestos survey must be carried out by a competent person.

Healthy, safe and productive lives and enterprises. Please Note Our website uses cookies to enhance your browsing experience and to collect information about how you use this site to improve our service to you. Accept all cookies Manage Cookies. Managing Safety and Health in Schools. Teacher Support and Classroom Resources. Safety and Health Initiatives in Education. Health and Safety Courses Online. Codes of Practice. Online Complaint Form. Those exposed risk illnesses such as mesothelioma and other asbestos cancers.

By the late s, miners practiced a new method for removing ore. Miners incorporated wetting agents into the process. Wetting the ore helped prevent the release of fibers. Workers then crushed, sized, screened and dewatered the ore prior to shipment. Public health officials tasked with monitoring emissions noted the wetting technique as a safer alternative.

Asbestos mines are no longer in operation in the United States. Asbestos mining reached a peak in the late s and early s. Once the dangers of exposure became widely recognized, production gradually decreased. Although the last asbestos mine closed in , other countries continue to mine the mineral. Asbestos is not fully banned in the United States and can be imported under certain restrictions.

There are six main types of asbestos. Each type belongs to the serpentine or amphibole asbestos mineral family. Chrysotile asbestos is the only serpentine type. All others are classified as amphibole asbestos. All asbestos is fibrous. The main difference between serpentine and amphibole asbestos is fiber appearance.

Serpentine fibers are long, curly and pliable. Amphibole fibers are short, straight, needle-like and stiff. Asbestos fibers were frequently used in many products, including cement , insulation , sealants and tiles. Different types of asbestos were used in these products. For example, amosite asbestos is common in construction materials and fireproofing products. Some studies suggest amphibole asbestos is more dangerous than chrysotile. However, research regarding the most dangerous type of asbestos is inconclusive.

Despite studies finding varying risks associated with asbestos types, all asbestos is dangerous. Exposure to any type of asbestos can lead to cancers and other illnesses. Evidence was submitted to OSHA in an attempt to prove chrysotile is less dangerous than other amphibole types. OSHA emphasized the decision to treat the fibers similarly with the following reasons:. Asbestos materials are either friable or non-friable. Friability depends on how easily the material can be broken down by hand.

Friable products typically pose more of a health risk than non-friable asbestos. Non-friable asbestos may not pose a risk if properly contained. However, individuals should treat any asbestos product as a potential health risk. Home renovations, natural disasters and other incidents can easily present asbestos exposure risks. Asbestos was used in a variety of products mainly for heat resistance and fireproofing. Asbestos use peaked towards the late s.

The mineral was used in insulation, cement, flooring, roofing and fireproof products. This practice was popular from the s to the s.

In , asbestos regulations forced manufacturers to use safer asbestos alternatives. Asbestos is not yet fully banned in the United States. Asbestos mining is no longer allowed, but the mineral can be imported. Asbestos-containing products are still in use throughout the U. Some products may also legally be manufactured with small amounts of the mineral. Asbestos was once used in thousands of products. Regulations prevent many new products from containing the mineral, but some may legally contain low levels of asbestos.

Historically, there are many occupations that have put workers at risk of asbestos exposure. The main concern with asbestos in the workplace is if fibers become airborne. Individuals can then breathe in or swallow the fibers.

Many jobs required workers to sand, cut or repair asbestos products. This often created asbestos dust. Asbestos also causes a progressive lung disease called asbestosis.

The Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act of legally recognizes six types of asbestos that fall into two categories: Amphibole and serpentine. Serpentine asbestos fibers are curly. There is only one kind: Chrysotile, which is also known as "white asbestos. Although asbestos comes from all over the world, the main exporters are Russia, Kazakhstan and China. The toxic mineral was once mined throughout North America. Asbestos may be found in large deposits or as contaminates in other minerals such as talc and vermiculite.

Chrysotile asbestos is usually found as veins within serpentine rock. Mesothelioma is a type of cancer almost exclusively caused by asbestos exposure. The mineral also causes asbestos-related lung cancer, ovarian cancer and laryngeal cancer. No amount of asbestos exposure is safe, but asbestos generally has the worst effects when a person is exposed to an intense concentration of it, or they are exposed on a regular basis over a long period of time.

Asbestos accumulates in the body with every exposure, and there is no known way to reverse the damage it causes. Fibers are easily inhaled once they become airborne. It is important to avoid disturbing products that may contain asbestos. Additionally, people who live near naturally occurring asbestos deposits should avoid disturbing soil that may be contaminated.

The majority of patients with asbestos-related diseases are men in their 60s or older. This is because asbestos-related diseases have a long latency period, often taking decades to develop. They usually trace back to occupational exposure at workplaces historically staffed by men.

Regulations have reduced the risk of exposure in the workplace, but a degree of risk remains for many occupations. The U. Family members of veterans and other asbestos industry workers also have an elevated risk of developing an asbestos-related disease because of secondhand exposure. Living in the vicinity of an asbestos-contaminated mine or processing facility puts individuals at risk of environmental exposure.

Asbestos industry work sites have existed across the United States, such as in the town of Ambler, Pennsylvania, and at landmarks such as Grand Central Terminal in New York. For example, decades of vermiculite mining near the Superfund site at Libby, Montana, caused one of the worst environmental disasters in U. The ore contained traces of asbestos that contaminated the surrounding area for miles, eventually causing the deaths of hundreds of Libby residents.

When Americans are exposed to asbestos today, it is usually through renovation or demolition work on an old building that still contains legacy asbestos products. A U. Environmental Protection Agency rule states manufacturers must seek government approval before selling discontinued uses of asbestos. Hundreds of manufacturers used asbestos insulation in steam engines, piping and locomotives.

Thousands of other uses later emerged, and companies began putting it in products such as boilers, gaskets, cement, roofing materials and automotive brake pads. Microscopic asbestos fibers cannot be seen, smelled or tasted. Unless it is clearly marked as asbestos, the only way to detect asbestos in an unmarked material is to send a sample to a lab for testing or hire an accredited asbestos inspector.

Some situations require the removal of asbestos-containing materials. But it may be safer to leave the materials undisturbed or encapsulate them with a sealant. Consult a certified asbestos abatement professional for the best advice.

Some jurisdictions allow homeowners to remove asbestos materials on their own. If you are considering DIY asbestos abatement, remember the following precautions:. Asbestos is not banned in the United States, but it is highly regulated. The asbestos industry has powerful lobbying organizations protecting its interests.

The toxic mineral is still commonly used in Russia, China, India and Mexico. Since the s, manufacturers in the United States have largely phased out the use of asbestos, relying instead on several safer substitutes.

The history of asbestos extends back to ancient times, but in the U. From the beginning of the modern asbestos industry, doctors documented the lethal effects of asbestos exposure in scattered medical reports.

As early as the s, business executives also quietly researched the issue and found that asbestos exposure causes lung disease. Asbestos companies made enormous profits by selling insulation to shipbuilders during World War II, and they expanded their business further during the postwar building boom. These companies even paid unscrupulous researchers, such as J. Wagner , who helped them deny any responsibility. However, the publication of new information about asbestos and medical evidence linking the mineral to cancer could no longer be ignored.

Labor unions began to fight back. American companies phased out most uses of asbestos in the s, but it was too late for the workers who had been handling asbestos products for decades. Asbestos manufacturers are held liable for the diseases their products cause because they covered up evidence of the health effects of asbestos and continued exposing workers and consumers.

Former employees are filing lawsuits against asbestos companies, and so are the workers who used asbestos products on the job. Family members who develop mesothelioma through secondhand exposure are also eligible to file a legal claim.

People with mesothelioma can be compensated through multiple legal options, including trust funds established by asbestos companies that went bankrupt. Hundreds of thousands of patients and families have sought compensation for illnesses caused by the negligence of the asbestos industry. Tell your doctor about your history of asbestos exposure and ask them to screen you for related diseases.

If you are diagnosed with mesothelioma, it is extremely important to get a second opinion from a mesothelioma doctor. You are eligible for compensation if you were exposed to asbestos and develop mesothelioma, lung cancer or asbestosis.