When is Asbestos Dangerous? What's Asbestos Exposure Law?

Before letting you know when Asbestos is dangerous, let’s take a deep insight of the term "Asbestos". In general sense, asbestos is basically a type of silicate mineral occurring in long and thin type of fibrous crystals. These crystals are sub divided into fibrils that can be only seen at a microscopic level.

Asbestos becomes hazardous when these fibrils are released into the atmosphere due to various reasons like abrasion and other natural or human invasion of any type. In short, if we need to make you understand the term, we will only call it a natural mineral and carcinogen (cancerous agent or substance) that causes mesothelioma.

Asbestos is of six types and all of them are known to have the capability to spread the disease. In fact, asbestos exposure is quite dangerous that often proves fatal, especially when its fibers are inhaled and are trapped in various parts of the body like lungs, digestive tracks and elsewhere.

Another crucial aspect of this naturally occurring mineral is that they are heat resistant which means they have no effect even if they come in contact with heat. In spite of this, they are not yet banned in the US completely.

When is Asbestos Dangerous?

Now, it will become easier to explain when is asbestos dangerous. As you see, asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral; it becomes hazardous when it releases fibers in the atmosphere.

It's because the easiest way for asbestos fibers to enter into the body is through breathing. And when these fibers are released into the atmosphere, they can easily enter into the body through inhalation. Please note that asbestos or asbestos containing mineral is not called harmful unless it releases harmful fibers or dust into the atmosphere.

After inhalation, many of these fibers are trapped in the body at distinct places like in the mucous lining or membranes of nose or inside the digestive tract. This is the time when some of them pass deep inside the lungs as and when swallowed. Now, after they are trapped inside the body, they become the reason of posing serious complications.

Please also note that Asbestos is most dangerous when it's friable which means that they can be easily crumbled by hands and releasing small fibers into the atmosphere. Asbestos is not dangerous when it is untouched in any way.

But deterioration or damage generally becomes the reason to make them friable. Some of the damage can happen in the form of aging, continual vibration, Water damage, etc. One of the prime reasons that plays a vital role in damaging and release of asbestos fiber in the air happens to be the physical damage like buffing, drilling, striking, sawing and grinding.

It's because all the above measures can break the material easily. And this causes the fibers to release in the atmosphere very easily.

Also Read: Top 2 Reasons of Development of Asbestos Cancer

Health Impact of Asbestos

There is no doubt that asbestos-exposure happens to be the prime reason to spread diseases like mesothelioma, it can cause many more health related issues once it gets mixed in the atmosphere. It's mainly because it becomes too hard to completely destroy asbestos fibers, especially when they are trapped inside the body tissues.

In fact, they remain for years after they are trapped inside the body at various places like digestive tract or into the inner lining of lungs. Please note that asbestos exposure is so dangerous that it causes 3 types of health issues:

·        Asbestosis

·        Lung Cancer

·        Mesothelioma

 

All the above types of diseases caused due to the asbestos exposure are harmful and prolonged exposure is likely to become fatal.

 Also Read: Pleural Mesothelioma Diagnosis, Symptoms and Treatment

 

Asbestosis

As the name suggests, the diseases is caused due to the exposure of asbestos. Since it becomes too hard to completely destroy asbestos fibers, the human body is unable to break down or at least remove them after they are trapped either in body tissues or inside the linings of the lungs. In short, they remain at their place where they are able to cause the damage. And so, there is nothing can be done to nail them.

In general, inhaled asbestos fibers once reach to the lungs, they start aggravating lung tissues. In the due course of time, they become the reason for these tissues to scar. Most common symptoms of asbestosis include shortness of breath and also a type of crackling sound in the lungs at the time of inhalation.

Considering the options of treatment, there is no treatment of asbestosis. And in the most cases, the diseases can prove fatal. The best way to prevent from asbestosis is to stay away from it. People who don't work with asbestos have the minimum chances of getting the disease.

On the other hand, people who have to work near buildings or at the time of demolishing of buildings, they can be at risk. It further depends on the nature of the exposure along with the precaution taken.

 

Lung Cancer

Asbestos exposure is the prime reason to cause lung cancer among people. It's the reason that causes maximum deaths. Please note that those wo are actively involved in works like manufacturing, mining, milling and also use asbestos or its related products happen to be in the highest risk of causing the disease.

Some of the most common symptoms of lung cancer include coughing or a change in the breathing pattern. Other symptoms include hoarseness, chest pain, and shortness of breath.

Those who have already exposed to asbestos and are also have a habit to smoke frequently have higher chances of getting lung cancer as compared to those who are just exposed to asbestos. As per a study conducted regarding this, it was found that workers who usually smoke have 90% chances to get the risk of getting the disease.

Mesothelioma

It's one of the rare forms of the cancer that specifically spreads due to the asbestos exposure in the lining of lungs. Even today, when there is so much advancement and knowledge about this hazardous mineral, close to 200 diagnoses are done in the US alone.

If you look at data, most of the time those become prey to mesothelioma who are somehow linked with asbestos exposure in anyway. Likewise, people who work in mines, factories and asbestos mills and also use asbestos are likely to have high risk of contracting mesothelioma.

The list also includes those who live in the close association of asbestos workers, near asbestos mining places or some product making factories having asbestos in any form. So, you can see that the main cause of spreading mesothelioma is none other than asbestos exposure in any form.

Also Read: Sarcomatoid Mesothelioma Treatment, Diagnosis Survival and Sub types

What's Asbestos Exposure Law?

Now, let's discuss asbestos exposure law that makes sense to include in our discussion at this point of time. In spite of the so much scare and fatality rate due to asbestos exposure, it's hard to believe that EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) has not yet banned the use of asbestos.

It's one of the most common and hazardous pollutant ever discovered in the air which is regulated under Section 112 of the Clean Air Act of 1970. Those who have got the asbestos exposure in any way have all the rights to hire a suitable lawyer to file their claims.

 

 Also Read: Can You Get Mesothelioma Without Asbestos Exposure

References: 

https://ehs.oregonstate.edu/asb-when 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asbestos_and_the_law#