Asbestos Dangers

Asbestos has been associated with serious medical issues since ancient times and both Greek and Roman writers noted the dangers related to working with it. Those involved in the processing and weaving of asbestos into cloth were at risk of developing significant lung, pulmonary and respiratory problems.

As the UK Health and Safety Executive bluntly state on their website, asbestos is the 'greatest single cause of work-related deaths in the UK' and dealing with products made from the material should never be ragarded as a trivial matter.

The main dangers associated with asbestos relate to inhalation of the fibres and consequently asbestos that is unbroken, coated or sealed presents less of a danger than asbestos that has been broken up releasing fibres into the air. As there are different types of asbestos, with different filament structures, the dangers associated with each can vary quite considerably. Please remember that if you find undamaged asbestos in the home or workplace, then the worst thing that you can do is to break it up or attempt to remove it without professional advice and assistance. It may have sat undisturbed for decades and be relatively innocuous but moving it or breaking it up will release fibres (or fibers for our non UK readers) into the air, presenting a far greater hazard. Remember to consult appropriately qualified and certified contractors.

Acute medical conditions associated with asbestos result from prolonged exposure to it and inhalation of the fibres. Merely touching asbestos, briefly using it or a one off mild exposure to airborne fibres is unlikely to cause serious issues. This, however, does not mean that you should be reckless in any way when dealing with it and assessing the safety aspects of its removal..

The two major illnesses, both of which can prove fatal, are asbestosis and mesothelioma (malignant tumours). Asbestosis was first identified in England in 1924. Mesothelioma, the term being used since 1931, began to be associated with asbestos exposure in the 1940s.

Other health effects include asbestos warts, pleural plaques and diffuse pleural thickening.

Asbestos warts can be caused when sharp fibres become lodged in the skin and are then overgrown which causes non-malignant callus type growths.

Pleural plaques are fibrous or partially calcified and thickened areas of the lung which can be identified on the X-rays of some individuals who have been exposed to asbestos. Pleural plaques are not not malignant and do not impair the lungs any further.

Diffuse pleural thickening is similar to pleural plaques and can, at times, be linked to asbestosis. Although no symptoms are usually shown, if the condition is extensive it can result in the impariment of lung functions.

Due to the fact that asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral, the health implications are not purely confined to those who have worked with it in indusry. Even those persons who have had no occupational contact with asbestos may have hundreds of thousands to millions of asbestos fibre fragments in their lungs. Although comprehensive in-depth analysis of the health implications of naturally occurring asbestos ( NOA ) has yet to be undertaken, it may be possible that asbestos exposure associated illnesses and medical conditions may also be seen in those who have lived in close proximity to mined areas or natural near-surface deposits.

'Asbestos Reference' is the site for info relating to identifying asbestos and the careful management, removal and disposal of sheeting, insulation and other products made from the material. All information provided at this site is offered on a non-professional basis and you should take all sensible precautions and consult qualified UK professional organisations and contractors when dealing with asbestos.