Asbestos

Asbestos is a natural fibrous mineral that can put your health on the line.

It’s got a unique structure: It is strong, flexible, durable, and it resists heat and fire.

That explains why a lot of manufacturers like to use it in many different industries.

This fibrous mineral is used as insulation (both thermal and acoustic). It is also added to different materials to make them fire proof.

Where is it found?

There are thousands of products out there that contain this mineral fiber. Here is just a small sampling:

brake pads, buildings (e.g. offices, schools, and other public buildings), driveway coating, shingles, caulking, putty, walls, ceilings, ceiling tiles, clapboard, wallboard, hot water heating systems, vinyl floor tiles, textured and latex paints, clay pottery, irons, ironing board pads, flame-resistant electric blankets, hair dryers, and more

Asbestos Exposure

When left completely alone, this mineral is not so much of a concern. The problem is that it doesn’t take very much to disturb it. When disturbed, it breaks up into tiny particles which get into the air around you. The particles are very thin. They don’t weigh very much and can stay in the air for hours or even days. That makes it very easy for anyone close by to breathe them in.

If you breathe in the small particles, they can get into your lungs and cause damage/poisoning. The longer you are exposed, the greater your chances of getting some sort of asbestos poisoning or disease. It may take a few years or many more before you notice any symptoms.

Possible health effects of exposure:

This disease happens when the fibers get into your lungs. The fibers cause irreversible scarring of your lung tissue. Unfortunately, your body isn’t able to remove the fibers.

The scars may cause your lungs to harden (fibrosis). If your lungs are hardened, you will not be able to take in as much oxygen as healthy lungs can. They will not be able to function at their full capacity.

The main symptoms of this disease are shortness of breath, tightness in the chest, and a cough that will not go away.

Exposure can also lead to lung cancer. It can take up to 40 years for the cancer to develop. If you smoke cigarettes, that increases your chances of getting lung cancer. Now is a great time to quit!

Mesothelioma is a rare cancer caused by asbestos poisoning. This cancer affects the outer tissues of your lungs (the pleura). It can take anywhere from 10 to 50 years after you are exposed before this cancer develops. Symptoms of mesothelioma are chest pain and shortness of breath.

This kind of cancer can also occur in the lining of your abdominal cavity (peritoneum), and in the lining of your heart (pericardium). Unfortunately the prognosis for this type of cancer is not good.

Exposure can also cause damage to your immune system, damage to your digestive system, and pulmonary hypertension.

Minimizing Exposure

Thankfully this mineral fiber is not as popular as it once was. Even though safer alternatives are available, we all need to exercise care and caution. When you need to replace old items with new ones, be sure to carefully remove and dispose of old items that may contain this mineral. I highly recommend calling in a professional (who is an expert in removal) to do the job for you. Your health is worth the added expense.

If you are planning on buying an older home, be sure to do your research first to find out what insulation and building materials it is made from.