What is
Asbestos?
“Asbestos”
is the name given to a group of minerals that occur
naturally as bundles of fibers which can be separated
into thin threads. These fibers are not affected by heat
or chemicals and do not conduct electricity. For these
reasons, asbestos has been widely used in many
industries. Four types of asbestos have been used
commercially:
- Chrysotile,
or white asbestos;
- Crocidolite,
or blue asbestos;
- Amosite,
which usually has brown fibers; and
- Anthophyllite,
which usually has gray fibers.
Chrysotile
asbestos, with its curly fibers, is in the serpentine
family of minerals. The other types of asbestos, which
all have rod-like fibers, are known as amphiboles.
Asbestos
fiber masses tend to break easily into a dust composed
of tiny particles that can float in the air and stick
to clothes. The fibers may be easily inhaled or swallowed
and can cause serious health problems.
Asbestosis
is a serious, chronic, non-cancerous respiratory disease.
Like all cancers it has remedies to some extent. Inhaled
asbestos fibers aggravate lung tissues, which causes
them to scar. Symptoms of asbestosis include shortness
of breath and a dry crackling sound in the lungs while
inhaling. In its advanced stages, the asbestos disease
may cause cardiac failure.
There is no effective treatment
for asbestosis; the disease is usually disabling or
fatal. The risk of asbestosis is minimal for those who
do not work with asbestos; the disease is rarely caused
by neighborhood or family exposure. Those who renovate
or demolish buildings that contain asbestos may be at
significant risk, depending on the nature of the exposure
and precautions taken.
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Sources of National Cancer Institute Information
Mesothilioma, Mesotheliema,Mesothiliema,Mesotheleoma
Mesosthelioma, Masesthilioma information:
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