Table Of Contents
Identifying Asbestos
Asbestos is a natural mineral consisting of fibres that are resistant to heat, corrosion, and electricity. Its wide range of uses makes it extremely useful. In construction, asbestos was widely used as an effective insulator, and it can also be added to cloth, paper, cement, plastic, and other materials to increase their strength.
Nevertheless, fibres from asbestos dust can permanently enter the body when inhaled or ingested. Eventually, asbestos fibres trapped in the body can lead to genetic damage, inflammation, and scarring. Long asbestos exposure can cause significant health complications leading to cancer.
Mesothelioma is a rare and aggressive cancer almost exclusively caused by asbestos exposure. Asbestos exposure is a hidden killer, and it can also lead to asbestosis, a progressive lung disease. Asbestos has been tested, and it tends to be carcinogenic, making it dangerous.
What Is Asbestos Used For?
Many materials, including concrete, bricks, fireplace cement, pipes, and insulation, have been strengthened or fireproofed by asbestos. Although asbestos has been phased out, it is still found in several products, including brake pads and gaskets.
Before the 1800s, asbestos was almost exclusively used to manufacture fireproof cloth. However, during the Industrial Revolution, demand increased for insulating materials for steam engines. Likewise, technology was developed to mine asbestos and combine it with other materials.
In the 20th century, shipbuilding and post-war building booms further boosted the demand for asbestos products. The majority of veterans were exposed to asbestos during both their military and civilian careers.
What Are The Properties Of Asbestos?
Asbestos is unique in its chemical and physical properties, making it resistant to heat and chemical reactions. Its composition reduces the likelihood of it reacting with other compounds, and its space between the fibres prevents heat from convection, making it resistant to fire.
Abundance
There is an abundance of asbestos in mineral deposits throughout the world.
Woolly
Asbestos ore can be pulverised into a woolly consistency and then worked like any other fibre.
Durable
The high heat, electric charge, and chemical corrosion resistance of asbestos make it a durable material.
Carcinogenic
The body cannot easily break down asbestos fibres lodged in the lungs once they are inhaled. Over many years, these lodged asbestos fibres can cause chronic inflammation, the formation of scar tissue, and cancer.
Where Are Asbestos Products Mostly Found?
Asbestos and asbestos products are used almost everywhere in homes, schools, and industrial buildings.
Typical asbestos products in homes include:
• Concrete roof shingles
• Floor tiles
• Ceiling tiles
• Wallboards
• Ductwork used in heating and cooling systems
Examples of asbestos-containing materials in industrial buildings:
• Ceiling tiles
• Wallboards
• Ductwork for heating and cooling systems
Asbestos Exposure
Asbestos can be a health hazard at any level, and it has a range of symptoms, but it can be perilous when you are exposed to high concentrations of it or are exposed regularly over a long period. Every time asbestos is exposed, it accumulates in the body, and there is no known way to reverse its effects.
Once those asbestos fibres become airborne, they are easily inhaled. Those who handle asbestos-containing products should take care not to disturb them. Furthermore, people who live near naturally occurring asbestos deposits should avoid disturbing soil that might contain asbestos.
Men in their 60s and older are most patients with asbestos-related diseases. It often takes decades for asbestos-related diseases to manifest because of their long latency period. It has usually been linked to occupational exposure at traditionally male-dominated workplaces.
Occupations Related To Asbestos
Recent asbestos testing proves that individuals living near an asbestos-contaminated mine or processing facility are at risk for asbestos exposure. Several occupations are directly or indirectly linked to asbestos. For example, the radiation exposures in the X-ray room are dangerous for the personnel and staff related to the X-ray room.
Similarly, staff and workers related directly or indirectly are at risk of health hazards. Regulations and legislation have reduced asbestos health effects to a greater extent. However, the risk is still there, and the workers in the occupational zones are still at the risk of asbestos exposure.
Most highly affecting asbestos occupations are:
• Mining
• Construction
• Manufacturing industries
• Electricity generation units
• Shipments
• Military services
• Automotive repair
• Building repair and renovation
Around 1.3 million workers are working in these industries and are directly related to asbestos exposure. The workers working near or with asbestos are at risk of health hazards, but families and other people linked with those asbestos workers are somehow at the risk of asbestos-related health hazards; it is called second-hand exposure.
Asbestos Related Diseases
Asbestos exposure is linked with many diseases and health hazards. Some of the significant health hazards are acute, yet others may lead to cancer and ultimately death. Cancer is associated with prolonged exposure to asbestos.
The primary type of cancer associated with asbestos exposure is mesothelioma. Additionally, asbestos exposure may also cause lung cancer, ovarian cancer, and laryngeal cancer.
Types Of Asbestos
Asbestos is of different types and natures. Using mass spectrometry, a method that identifies compounds by measuring their molecular weight, researchers identified different types of asbestos in mesothelioma samples. They are divided into two primary categories, including Amphibole and Serpentine.
Amphibole asbestos
The fibres of amphibole asbestos are straight and jagged shaped. Amphibole asbestos appears to cause cancer with far less exposure than serpentine asbestos.
Amosite and crocidolite are the most commercially valuable forms, while anthophyllite, tremolite, and actinolite are considered non-commercial types. Amphibole asbestos is further divided into five types.
• Crocidolite
• Amosite
• Anthophyllite
• Tremolite
• Actinolite
Serpentine asbestos
The fibres of serpentine asbestos look curly. It consists of curly fibres made up of sheets of crystals. Chrysotile, one type of asbestos in the serpentine family, has historically accounted for more than 95% of all asbestos used worldwide.
It is of only one type:
• Chrysotile
Origin Of Asbestos
Asbestos is generally found throughout the world, yet the leading exporters of asbestos are China, Russia, and Kazakhstan. Asbestos is found as large deposits or as a contaminant in other minerals, including Talc and Vermiculite, and it is an essential type of asbestos fibres. Chrysotile asbestos is found in veins within the serpentine rocks.
Minerals That Contain Asbestos
The majority of asbestos has been mined intentionally to make use of its properties, but there have also been cases when companies mined other minerals that naturally contained a small amount of asbestos. Talc and vermiculite are the most commonly contaminated products.
Talcum
Talcum is a soft mineral that is used in several products, including chalk, crayons, paint, rubber, cosmetics, ceramics, and pharmaceuticals. But talcum powder (commonly marketed as baby powder) is its most famous application.
Talcum powder products are not required to be asbestos-free by federal law; several consumers have sought legal counsel over asbestos exposure.
Vermiculite
The mineral vermiculite can be popped like popcorn by a process called exfoliation. This results in a lightweight material useful for insulation, packaging, and soil improvement.
Vermiculite is harmless in itself, but unfortunately, much of the vermiculite mined in the United States during the 20th century contained tremolite asbestos, a highly toxic mineral.
How Is Asbestos Tested?
Asbestos fibres are microscopic and hence cannot be seen directly with naked eyes. It cannot be smelled or tasted until the material is known to be asbestos with some preliminary tests.
For new samples, the only way to find whether it contains asbestos fibres is by testing the sample in the laboratory. After specific laboratory tests, asbestos fibres are categorised into two risk categories.
Friable asbestos
These asbestos fibres are easy to break and can be crumbled by hand effortlessly. Friable asbestos includes old asbestos pipe insulation and talcum powder that is contaminated with asbestos. These materials quickly release toxic dust into the air, and hence they are dangerous for health and the environment.
Non-friable asbestos
Non-friable asbestos material is more durable. It includes vinyl asbestos and asbestos cement slabs. In these products, asbestos is kept safely until it is disturbed with some external pressure on the materials like sewing, scrapping, and smashing.
Products Containing Asbestos
The majority of asbestos exposure to workers nowadays is associated with the renovation and demolition of old buildings that contain asbestos. Moreover, it is uncommon for workers to get affected by asbestos exposure; it is imported and used in small amounts.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) completed a risk assessment of legal chrysotile asbestos products in 2020 and found that workers handling asbestos diaphragms, sheet gaskets, oilfield brake blocks, aftermarket automotive brakes, linings, and other products were at unreasonable risk.
However, due to several environmental and health hazards, some of the most used asbestos products are discontinued. Those discontinued asbestos products are:
• Vinyl asbestos tiles
• Asbestos roofing felt
• Asbestos cement
• Asbestos reinforced plastics
• Asbestos adhesives
Asbestos Management
Asbestos products need to be handled carefully and cautiously. Although some asbestos products need to be removed from the site, others need to be handled carefully. Asbestos products should be held gently and softly. They should remain untouched and undisturbed.
In case of handling asbestos of large concentrations, consider a consultation with a professional asbestos abatement expert. However, if you are handling asbestos products on your own in your household, there are specific considerations to follow:
• Wear a protective respirator with a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter.
• While asbestos abatement occurs, cover the area with plastic sheets and turn off the air conditioning.
• Wear disposable overalls and gloves.
• Make sure asbestos materials are kept wet at all times by using a pump sprayer.
• Clean the work area thoroughly with wet wipes or a vacuum cleaner equipped with a HEPA filter.
• Use a landfill that will accept asbestos waste when disposing of asbestos waste.
Safe Alternatives To Asbestos
Manufacturers have phased out the use of asbestos and related products that contain high asbestos concentrations. Instead, they are focusing on the safer ones.
Polyurethane
Polyurethane foam is easy to spray on, it's cheap, and it's effective for insulation. Construction workers can easily insulate and seal with spray polyurethane foam.
Amorphous silica
Amorphous silica fabric is a highly specialised cloth weaved from nearly pure amorphous silica fibres. The fibres remain unchanged for a long time and are not flammable.
Cellulose fibres
Cellulose fibre is a natural material formed by chemically treating cotton, wood pulp, linen, or shredded paper to enhance its properties.
Thermoset plastic flour
Thermoset plastic flour is a hardened and finely ground mixture of wood fibres and binders, such as egg or gelatine. It is composed of a mixture of wood fibres and binders, such as gelatine or egg, which are hardened and ground finely, after which it is used.
When Did Asbestos Become Popular?
While asbestos dates back to ancient times, the toxic mineral became popular in the United States in the middle decades of the 20th century. At the dawn of the modern asbestos industry, doctors documented the lethal effects of asbestos exposure.
While business executives began researching asbestos exposure in the 1930s, they found that asbestos exposure causes lung disease. Asbestos companies made enormous profits by selling insulation to shipbuilders during World War II, and they expanded their business in the 1950s.
Asbestos Surveying
Now that you are aware of what asbestos dust looks like, where you can find it and how you can manage it, among other things, you should know that it is too dangerous for you to handle alone. Therefore, if you suspect the presence of asbestos in your house or office, it is best to contact experts for asbestos surveying followed by an asbestos removal quote.
David
