Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral fiber that was once commonly used in various construction and industrial applications due to its heat-resistant and insulating properties. However, asbestos is now known to be highly hazardous to human health. Here are some reasons why you should not touch or disturb asbestos:
- Health Risks: Asbestos fibers are microscopic and can become airborne when asbestos-containing materials are damaged or disturbed. Inhalation of these airborne fibers is the primary route of exposure. Once inhaled, asbestos fibers can become lodged in the lungs and cause serious health problems.
- Cancer Risk: Prolonged exposure to asbestos fibers can lead to the development of asbestos-related diseases, including lung cancer, mesothelioma (a rare cancer of the lining of the chest and abdomen), and asbestosis (a chronic lung disease). These diseases have long latency periods, meaning symptoms may not appear for many years after exposure.
- No Safe Level: There is no safe level of asbestos exposure. Even short-term exposure to asbestos fibers can be harmful. The greater the exposure and the longer the duration, the higher the risk of developing asbestos-related diseases.
- Fiber Persistence: Asbestos fibers are extremely durable and can remain in the lungs for a long time after exposure, increasing the risk of disease development over time.
- Fragile Materials: Asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) that are in good condition and left undisturbed are less likely to release fibers into the air. However, when these materials become damaged, deteriorate, or are handled improperly, they can release asbestos fibers.
- Legal Regulations: Many countries have strict regulations and guidelines governing the handling, removal, and disposal of asbestos-containing materials. Disturbing asbestos without proper training and adherence to safety protocols can result in legal consequences.
- Risk to Others: Disturbing asbestos not only puts you at risk but also poses a risk to others in the vicinity, including family members, neighbors, or co-workers who may inhale or come into contact with the released fibers.
- Best Left to Professionals: Due to the significant health risks associated with asbestos exposure, any activities involving the handling, removal, or disposal of asbestos-containing materials should be carried out by trained and certified asbestos abatement professionals. They have the knowledge, experience, and equipment to safely manage asbestos.
In summary, asbestos is a hazardous material that poses serious health risks when disturbed or handled improperly. It is essential to avoid touching or disturbing asbestos-containing materials and to leave any asbestos-related work to qualified professionals who can take the necessary precautions to protect both the workers and the surrounding environment from asbestos exposure.
Asbestos fibers most often enter the body is through breathing . Several of the fibers become trapped in the mucous membranes of the throat and nose where they can then be removed, but some can get into the lungs, or, if swallowed, into the digestive tract. Asbestos is most hazardous when it is friable, meaning it is easily crumbled by hand, releasing fibers into the air. Sprayed on asbestos insulation is highly friable. Asbestos-containing ceiling tiles, floor tiles, undamaged laboratory cabinet tops, shingles, fire doors, siding shingles, etc. will not release asbestos fibers unless they are disturbed or damaged in some way.
Asbestosis
Asbestosis is a serious, chronic, non-cancerous respiratory disease. Inhaled asbestos fibers aggravate lung tissues, which cause them to scar. Symptoms of asbestosis include shortness of breath and a dry crackling sound in the lungs while inhaling. There is no effective treatment for asbestosis; the disease is usually disabling or fatal. Those who renovate or demolish buildings that contain asbestos may be at significant risk, depending on the nature of the exposure and precautions taken.
Lung Cancer
Lung cancer causes the largest number of deaths related to asbestos exposure. The incidence of lung cancer in people who are directly involved in the mining, milling, manufacturing and use of asbestos and its products is much higher than in the general population. People who have been exposed to asbestos and are also exposed to some other carcinogen — such as cigarette smoke — have a significantly greater risk of developing lung cancer than people who have only been exposed to asbestos.
Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that most often occurs in the thin membrane lining of the lungs, chest, abdomen, and (rarely) heart. About 200 cases are diagnosed each year in the United States. Virtually all cases of mesothelioma are linked with asbestos exposure. Approximately 2 percent of all miners and textile workers who work with asbestos, and 10 percent of all workers who were involved in the manufacture of asbestos-containing gas masks, contract mesothelioma. People who work in asbestos mines, asbestos mills and factories, and shipyards that use asbestos, as well as people who manufacture and install asbestos insulation, have an increased risk of mesothelioma. So do people who live with asbestos workers, near asbestos mining areas, near asbestos product factories or near shipyards where use of asbestos has produced large quantities of airborne asbestos fibers.
Source: https://ehs.oregonstate.edu/asb-when
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