What is Asbestos and How Exposure is Hazardous to Your Health

Asbestos is a silicate mineral that naturally occurs and has the appearance of crystals with a detachable long fiber. It is an irrepressible and flexible, so it has become widely used as insulation and other products that require heat resistance, low electrical conductivity, and high tensile strength. It is very toxic and dangerous to health. Prolonged exposure to asbestos can cause individuals to develop serious diseases such as mesothelioma, asbestosis, and lung cancer. There is some evidence that links asbestos exposure to cancer of the esophagus, throat, kidney, gall bladder, intestine, and colon.

Mesothelioma is a rare type of cancer often caused by prolonged and heavy exposure to asbestos. Asbestosis is a respiratory disorder often characterized by scarring of lung tissue. Lung cancer is a condition not directly caused by asbestos inhalation, but may worsen when combined with smoking.

Asbestos is a man-made substance, but a naturally occurring mineral found in almost every continent around the world. It is still mined in several countries like Canada and Russia. Other countries have completely banned the mining of asbestos due to the lethal effects on humans.

Before the U.S. government has regulated the use of asbestos, a mineral widely used in commercial products such as building insulation, vinyl flooring, cement, ceiling tiles, tile, caulk, textiles, brake and coast. Asbestos is present in the environment at very low levels and becomes very dangerous in concentrated levels often found in the workplace. Thus, individuals who are likely to suffer from serious diseases caused by asbestos work in high-risk occupations that are included in the following: building and civil works, shipbuilding, auto-mechanics, demolition, masonry and dry, fire, and textiles. These days, the OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) to ensure that workers are given protective gear and masks to reduce the risk of exposure to asbestos.

symptoms of diseases related to asbestos typically occur after many decades, about 30-50 years or so. Depending on the spread of the disease state, symptoms may include: chest pain, swelling, coughing, hoarseness, difficulty breathing, loss of appetite, weight loss and fatigue. People who develop any of these symptoms and have a history of asbestos exposure should seek medical attention immediately.