Asbestos is an umbrella term for six distinct naturally occurring fibrous minerals. This mineral, since time immemorial, has found its way to become one of the most sought-after materials in construction projects. Asbestos is popular for its several unique abilities like enhanced strength, resistance to heat/light and many more making it a useful product for fireproofing buildings, insulating walls, etc.
Health practitioners and scientists have always been vocal about the ill effects of asbestos fibre especially when they are airborne. As per several independent and state-sponsored studies, it was found that prolonged exposure to airborne asbestos fibres can result in an individual to develop high mortality diseases and cancer!
Facts probably you didn’t know about asbestos:
It has a fatality rate higher than skin cancer!
As reported by the CDC (or Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), more than 15,000 people die of exposure to asbestos per year!
There is no ‘safe level’ for asbestos exposure!
Several renowned government bodies across the world warn both employers and employees that there is no safe level of exposure when it comes to airborne asbestos fibres. Be it a day, or a year, a person who has handled asbestos have a higher chance of coming down with mesothelioma!
It is all around you!
Even after so many studies proved the dangers of asbestos, it is still all around you! It finds extensive use in construction, in industrial sectors across developed and developing countries. People who are residing in homes that are at least 20 years old most likely have their attics insulated with asbestos! On top of that, even some kitchen appliances can have asbestos followed by heat-resistant clothing and fabric!
Asbestos impact on your health
Asbestos fibres can enter the human body easily through the air track when one is breathing. It should be kept in mind that material containing asbestos is not necessarily harmful as long as it is not releasing dust in the ambient air! The airborne asbestos fibres that get trapped in the mucous membrane of your throat and nasal tract can be expelled out. The case takes a fatal turn when the fibres find its way to your lungs or worse, in your digestive tract!
Asbestos is hard to destroy meaning they will continue to live within your body and can cause severe diseases that often leads to terminal cases and even death!
Prolonged exposure to asbestos fibres can cause the following diseases:
- Asbestosis – It is a respiratory disease where the inhaled asbestos fibres cause the inner walls of the lung tissue to scar. Its symptoms consist of shortness of breath, the unusual sound coming out of the lungs while inhaling. If the disease advances, it can lead to cardiac failure!
- Lung Cancer – Similar to cigarette smoke, asbestos fibres can also cause lung cancer. It is found out in a controlled study that workers who are employed in the mining of asbestos are at high risk of developing lung cancer in the future!
- Mesothelioma – It is a malignant tumour that often is seen on the tissue linings in the lung of a person who works in asbestos mines or factories. The symptoms are unexplained bouts of chest pain, excessive coughing followed by shortness of breath.
Even after so many studies have proved the ill-effects of asbestos, it is sad to see that the same is still used unchecked across industries around the globe! Government bodies should do more to find an alternative to asbestos so that the future generations are kept from its dark shadow!