Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral or group of minerals. It is a "mined" mineral that takes on the form of natural fibers. These fibers a capable of floating in air and can lodge into the lungs, causing infection and other damage to the cells.
Asbestos is also found in products such as old plastics, textiles, electrical switchboards, caulking/patching tape, brake linings, paper products, crayons containing talc, and heavy industrial sealants. There is a widespread use of asbestos in manufacturing because heat and chemicals do not affect asbestos and it is not a conductor of electricity. Asbestos is often added to cement and plastic to increase its durability. It is also used in some products for fire proofing and sound absorption.
Asbestos is a dust-like fiber that clings to clothing, skin, fingernails, and hair. As a result of this, workers exposed to asbestos also run the risk of exposing other people who are in close contact.
Since the early 1970's, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) have recognized asbestos as a cancer-causing agent. These agencies have tried to pass asbestos laws to ban or limit the use of this deadly material.
Many asbestos producers began to pressure the U.S. government in preventing any asbestos laws that would restrict asbestos use because they feared the loss of profits. But by 1989, most products containing asbestos were banned.
Today, the EPA regulates the emission of asbestos from factories and also from building demolitions. OSHA also upholds asbestos laws limiting the amount of asbestos fibers found in the air and in the workplace. As a result of these regulations, many law firms are now set up to assist mesothelioma sufferers in processing claims to receive the compensation for which they are entitled.
Exposure to asbestos is the leading risk factor for developing mesothelioma. The use of asbestos in manufacturing stopped after 1989 once asbestos had been linked to mesothelioma. Up until this time, asbestos had been used in products such as, soundproofing, insulation, patching compounds, ironing board covers and roofing.
Asbestos is a naturally occurring fibrous mineral made of silicate. The two main forms of asbestos are amphiboles (thin, rod-like fibers), and serpentine (pliable and coiled). When asbestos is inhaled it is expelled by first sticking to the mucus in the bronchi, and then being coughed up. While the serpentine fibers are easily cleared, the amphiboles are not easily coughed up. The amphiboles can reach the end of the alveoli and penetrate into the surface lining of the pleura.
The risk of developing a mesothelioma is directly related to how long and how much asbestos the person was exposed to. A mesothelioma may take as many as 20 to 50 years to develop.
There are 4 work classifications based on level of predicted exposure . Some of these levels require the use of a respirator. Employers must monitor all asbestos operations. Each construction site must have an employee deemed competent to recognize and address hazards. An initial exposure assessment must be conducted as well as subsequent assessments throughout the project. They must keep records of employees' asbestos exposure and asbestos levels at sites. Warning signs must be clearly posted. Employees must also be trained in proper care and handling of asbestos. Some of the specific precautions are as follows:
Insulating materials before the mid-1970's commonly contained asbestos. In addition to household attic insulation, these included: pipe and boiler insulation, fireproofing, insulating cements, plaster, and joint materials, firebrick and gunnite, roof floor and ceiling tiles, transite siding, brakes and clutches.
The following tradesmen could have worked around asbestos: