Asbestos
Asbestos is a mineral group that exists in the environment as fiber bundles capable of being turned into thin threads. These durable threads are heat-resistant and non-flammable. They aren't affected by chemicals and cannot conduct electricity. In short, asbestos is an ideal insulator that protects against fires, strengthens cement and plastics and is used in many other ways. American industries have been using asbestos since the late 1800s. World War II saw a marked increase for asbestos use. That asbestos surge left a legacy of hard to fight illnesses, including mesothelioma and asbestosis. Old buildings still being used are potential threats. They may have a considerable amount of asbestos within their walls. Tearing down or rehabilitating those buildings creates a very substantial risk that asbestos can be released into the air.
How Government Has Reacted to Asbestos Problems
As it became obvious that asbestos presented severe health problems, the government instituted a number of bans for the mineral. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) cracked down on the use of asbestos in wallboard materials and some fireplaces. This late 1970s asbestos ban prompted hair dryer makers to stop using it in their products. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in 1989, ordered that no asbestos be used in any new products. That order, however, allowed the asbestos already in use prior to 1989 could continue. The EPA also said school systems had to inspect buildings to uncover any damaged asbestos. Asbestos that has been damaged can release minute amounts of fibers into the air. Those fibers can be breathed or ingested by non-suspecting people. The schools were told to reduce or eliminate asbestos exposure by removing the mineral or encasing it. These, and other actions taken by the government, have created a dramatic reduction in America's asbestos usage. Domestic consumption of asbestos fell from 803,000 metric tons in 1973 to some 2,400 metric tons in 2005.
The Serious Health Hazards Asbestos Can Create
It doesn't matter where or how an asbestos victim got it into his system. It can be at home, at work or simply walking down the street. Tiny asbestos fibers float in the air when disturbed. Breathed into a person's body, the asbestos can become trapped in the lungs and stay there. The accumulation of asbestos fibers, over time, scars and inflames tissue. That creates breathing problems and is linked to very serious health issues. Asbestos has been classified as a "known human carcinogen" by U.S. agencies. Studies have proved that asbestos exposure can increase lung cancer and mesothelioma. While mesothelioma is a relatively rare cancer, it is the cancer most considered to be associated with asbestos exposure. The diagnosis that confirms a patient has mesothelioma is too often a devastating blow. The disease takes so long to manifest itself that once it is recognized for what it is, it's usually impossible to cure. Anyone plagued with chronic breathing problems needs to see a mesothelioma expert as soon as possible.