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Asbestos FAQs
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What is asbestos?
- Asbestos is the name for a group of fibrous minerals that are
mined and mixed into building materials.
- Asbestos is very resistant to heat and chemicals.
- Asbestos has been used in a wide range of manufactured goods
including floor and ceiling tiles, coatings, texturing materials and
thermal insulation.
- Currently, asbestos is used only in products where another
material has not been found to replace it.
- Generally, asbestos is not a health risk when bound together
with a substance that prevents the fibers from entering the
environment.
When is asbestos a hazard?
Asbestos is not always an immediate hazard. In fact, if asbestos can be
maintained in good condition, it is recommended that it be left alone and
periodic surveillance performed to monitor it's condition. Only when
materials containing asbestos are disturbed or those materials become
damaged that it becomes a hazard. When asbestos containing materials become
damaged, the fibers separate and may then become airborne. Airborne fibers
are a hazard to your health.
How might someone be exposed?
By far, the most common form of exposure is by breathing in air containing
asbestos fibers. Ingesting the fibers is also a health risk.
What are the possible health risks of asbestos?
- The body cannot breakdown or eliminate inhaled fibers.
- A slow buildup of scar-like tissue in the lungs (called
asbestosis) can occur.
- Asbestosis has typically been observed in asbestos workers.
- Asbestos is known to cause cancer.
- There are no symptoms of exposure such as coughing, sneezing or
itching and therefore you cannot tell if asbestos is in the air or
if you have inhaled it.
Can asbestos cause cancer?
Yes, Asbestos has been proven to cause cancer. Three types of cancer have
been observed in individuals exposed to asbestos:
- Lung cancer - both small and large cell
- Mesothelioma ( a cancer of the lining of the chest and abdomen)
- Cancer of the gastrointestinal tract
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