Asbestos

Asbestos, literally meaning “inextinguishable,” is a material made of six different fibrous minerals, as well as oxygen, silicon, hydrogen, and other various metals.  The minerals include chrysotile (‘white’), crocidolite (‘blue’), amosite (‘brown’), tremolite, actinolite, and anthophyllite.  The minerals are derived from mines in locations surrounding the globe.  These areas include Canada, Russia, India, South Africa, Australia, and South America.  Asbestos containing the “colored” types are the most widely used in the industry.   Asbestos can be broken down into two groups, serpentine and amphibole. These subcategories vary in their physical characteristics.  Amphibole asbestos has a chain-like structure, while serpentine develops in a layered or tiered form.  The serpentine group contains the mineral chrysotile, and the other minerals are contained in the amphibole group.

Asbestos has the ability to withstand intense heat and resist chemicals.  Asbestos can also withstand pressure, remain constantly sturdy and strong in all temperatures, and can block fire.  Because of these things, it is used in places that reach high temperatures such as roof tops, shingling materials, and on automobile brakes.  It serves as a great thermal and electric insulator and is used in many types of facilities. These include homes, offices, factories, and large facilities like malls and arenas.

Although asbestos is very useful and has many benefits, it can also be fatally hazardous to those around it.  The health risks associated with asbestos exposure are heart damage, cancer, and lung damage.  All of these illnesses are so severe that they can lead to death.  Authorities first began to address  the problems associated with asbestos in the 1960’s.  Since then, asbestos-related articles and stories have emerged all over the main-stream media.  Asbestos is contained in several products, some of which have been banned by the EPA and CPSC because of their harmful affects on humans.

It is probably safe to say that everyone has been at least slightly exposed to asbestos at some point in their life time, whether they know it or not.  Asbestos particles can become air borne or deposited into water during the breakdown or maintenance of asbestos products.  The fibers typically measure >5µm long and <3µm wide.  Exposure through the air or the water is how most people become exposed to the harmful particles.  However, spontaneous exposure does not always prove to be deadly.  Where the problems lie is in the over-exposure that people experience, especially on jobs where workers come in contact with asbestos on a daily basis.

Workers of the mines that extract asbestos minerals, or those involved in making or using asbestos materials are at a much higher risk for developing mesothelioma. Individuals who reside near these areas may also be at risk for the illnesses, Asbestosis specifically.  Asbestosis is the name given to describe the lung-damaging illnesses associated with a more mild exposure to asbestos.

Because of the growing concern about the dangerous effects of asbestos, some people have been seeking the removal of items and materials that may contain asbestos in their daily environments, such as the home or office.  This process is called asbestos abatement.  It requires great attention to detail, details that ensure the safety of not only the workers, but outsiders as well.  It is important that little or no fibers from the asbestos get released into the air.

The steps to reducing exposure to asbestos are quite simple.  Some of these safety precautions are leaving undamaged asbestos material alone, as long as it is unlikely to be disturbed.  Another is to hire trained and qualified contractors to control measures that may disturb asbestos, and to properly clean up of asbestos.  It is very important that they follow proper procedures in replacing items that may contain asbestos.  There is no need for serious alarm if a person thinks that they might have asbestos in their home or work place.  As long as the asbestos is in good condition, only regular checks are required because it tends not to release many harmful fibers.

It  is important that asbestos materials are not cut, ripped, sanded, or disturbed in any way without proper protection.  Frequent inspections are suggested to keep record of the condition of the asbestos.  Immediate removal of dangerous asbestos materials is imperative because the longer is it is around, the more harm it may cause.  If a person is unsure about how to safely remove asbestos, they can contact their local health officials and contractors about the process.

Some of the more common uses and applications for asbestos:

∙Plastics and bituman products such as roofing felt, damp-proof course, toilet cisterns, injection-moldings, gutter linings, sink pads, coating on metals, skirtings, stair nosings, floor tiles, brakes, lifts

∙Cementing items such as ceiling tiles, roofing tiles, corrugated roofing sheets, flat sheets, partitioned walls, flue pipes, flower boxes, eaces soffits, fascia boards, guttering, etc.

∙Spray coatings used in structured steelwork and other steel related items such as those in shipyards

∙Sealing of joints to boilers, flues, chimneys, gaskets, kiln lining, heaters, etc.

∙Insulation in ovens, switchgear, electrical storage heaters, steam pipes, hot water cylinders

∙In textiles such as fire blankets, oven mits, fire proof clothing, safety curtains

Last modified: April 29, 2009