The name asbestos refers to a natural mineral that was used in construction and in many home items in the past. This material possesses heat-resistant qualities that made it useful for construction where it was employed as fire proofing and weather resistant material. Some years ago it was discovered that asbestos has serious health consequences and its use was prohibited. The main problem appears when the material is damaged, when it is cut and when the material is to be disposed of.
Three Types Of Asbestos
There are three varieties of asbestos: white, brown and blue. This material appears in the form of hairs or fibers and their characteristics differ according to the type of asbestos.
Blue and brown asbestos were prohibited in 1986 and the use of white asbestos was reduced in the same year. Nevertheless, all the types of asbestos are still present in home and work places.
How Asbestos Poses Health Risks
When talking about the risks asbestos poses to health, it is important to highlight that the danger arises when the fibers becomes airborne and thus they can be easily ingested or inhaled. But not all fibers represent a hazard. Long fibers and small ones are generally eliminated when coughing or breathing. They do not stay in the lungs.
On the contrary, there are fibers of certain size or that belong to a particular type of asbestos that insert in the lungs and are responsible for the development of mesothelioma or other asbestos related diseases.
Asbestos-related diseases typically do not turn out to be manifest until at least ten years or more after contact. Some of the symptoms can be coughing, shortness of breath, and chest pain. Doctors must pay attention to this if they are persistent.
In conclusion, all type of asbestos have to be managed with care and in all cases the necessary protective measures should be taken.
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