The dangers of asbestos
Recognition of asbestos can be traced back as far as pre-historic
times, and for many hundreds of years the mineral was revered as a wonder, particularly
due to the seemingly endless possibilities for its use.
It was only in relatively recent times that the dangers of asbestos
became evident, resulting in a 1985 UK ban concerning the use of blue and brown
asbestos, followed by a UK ban of white asbestos usage in 1999.
As a product of nature, the danger associated with asbestos comes directly as a
result of the properties of the mineral, namely the durability, flexibility and
strength of the fibres.
What is shocking is the 50,000 deaths in the UK over the last 30 years as a result
of exposure to asbestos. Even after the last UK asbestos usage ban came in to effect
in the late 1990s, there are still 3,500 asbestos-related deaths recorded every
year.
Causes of disease
Inhalation or even oral ingestion of any asbestos dust, or fibres, can have fatal
consequences for the individual concerned. While most inhaled asbestos will be exhaled,
there is a chance that some fibres will get stuck permanently in the lungs. The
accumulation of fibres then causes scarring and inflammation of the lungs and their
lining and this in turn affects breathing, eventually triggering disease. The three
main health risks resulting from asbestos exposure are lung cancer, asbestosis and
mesothelioma.
And it is not just those directly exposed to asbestos who are at risk. Even family
members of an exposed person can inhale asbestos, perhaps from clothing, and corresponding
instances of mesothelioma have been diagnosed in the past.
Illnesses related to asbestos can take years to show up, and in the case of mesothelioma,
it is sometimes as many as 30 years after the initial exposure that an individual
becomes aware of the disease.
Friability
During risk assessments you may hear about a phenomenon known as “friability”, which
refers to the ease at which the material can be turned to dust when pressure is
applied. The more friable the asbestos, the greater the release of fibres in to
the environment and consequently the greater the risk of health problems. The serpentine
group of asbestos, namely Chrysotile (white asbestos), is known to be less friable
than the amphibole varieties (including Crocidolite and Amosite) and is therefore
considered to be less hazardous.
Smoking
Research has shown that exposure to asbestos is far riskier to smokers than non-smokers,
with smokers much more at risk of developing lung cancer. Even ex-smokers have a
lower risk of getting lung cancer than current smokers, and it is for this reason
that it is still worthwhile encouraging an asbestos-exposed smoker to quit. Worth
noting also at this point is that smoking is not a factor in the development of
mesothelioma.