The use of asbestos sharply
declined in the late 1970s when it became evident that asbestos posed a threat
to human health and safety. Today, asbestos is classified as a known human
carcinogen. The property of durability—which made asbestos so desirable to
manufacturers—is that which makes asbestos hazardous. Asbestos fibers are
microscopic (roughly .02 the diameter of a human hair), and therefore, are
easily inhaled. Once inhaled, the fibers cling to the respiratory system,
including the lining of the lungs and inner cavity tissue. As asbestos fibers
are typically quite rigid, they become lodged in the soft internal tissue of
the respiratory system and are not easily expelled or broken-down by the body.
Hundreds of thousands of people
were exposed to asbestos in some capacity as a result of the mineral’s
extensive use in domestic, commercial, and industrial products. There is no
safe type of asbestos and no safe level of exposure. Nearly all those with
exposure history are potentially at risk of serious respiratory health
complications
If products containing asbestos are disturbed, the tiny fibers are released into the air. When they are breathed in, they can become trapped in the lungs and stay there for many years. Over time these fibers can accumulate and lead to serious health problems, including:
- Asbestosis, an inflammatory condition of lungs that can cause shortness of breath, coughing, and eventually scarring of the lungs that makes it hard to breathe.
- Mesothelioma, a rare cancer that affects the lining of the lungs, chest cavity, or abdomen.
- Lung cancer.
- Other lung problems, including pleural plaques (changes in the membranes surrounding the lungs), thickening of the membranes that surround the lungs, and pleural effusions (abnormal collections of fluid between the lungs and the inside wall of the chest.
