What is Asbestos?
Asbestos is a mineral also known as chrysotile that contains a long and thin fiber that when inhaled can cause damage to lungs or cancer. Asbestos was commonly used in insulation in homes as well as in roofing materials or even cement. During the first half of the 20th century and onwards into the 1960’s, 70’s and finally beginning to wane in the 1980’s, asbestos was used due its properties of resistance to heat and other chemicals. What manufacturers of asbestos and people who were around it a fair bit didn’t realize was that this resistant material was actually incredibly harmful.
Why is Asbestos Harmful?
What makes asbestos harmful are the properties within it. It contains the thin fiber that when inhaled can build up on the lungs and cause cancers and respiratory issues. People today are still dealing with the harms and afterward effects of inhaling this fiber into their bodies. There have been numerous settlements of people being awarded compensation for the suffering asbestos caused them.
How is Asbestos Harmful?
Asbestos is harmful due to some of the different sicknesses and diseases that it can cause. This is caused when asbestos fibers are inhaled into the lungs of a person. The fibers are very small and hard to see, so oftentimes people don’t even realize they are breathing in these harmful fibers. Some harmful diseases that have occured in people are:
- Lung Cancer – Most common disease found in those who dealt with manufacturing or removal of asbestos.
- Mesothelioma – Cancer of the lungs that develops over many years.
- Asbestosis – Non-cancerous, but causes harm to the respiratory system.
What Can be Done to Eliminate Asbestos
Oftentimes it is said that if you find asbestos in the home to just leave it alone. This is because asbestos is only dangerous if it has been damaged allowing the harmful asbestos fibers to roam. If these fibers are breathed into the lungs that is when asbestos is at its most harmful. As stated it has been known to cause some cancers like lung as well as asbestosis and mesothelioma. The best advice that can be given to avoid any contact with asbestos is to seek professional help from an organization or removal service that deals with asbestos. If you are looking for an asbestos contractor in Los Angeles, CA, then an asbestos contractor like Nielsen Environmental could be of assistance to you.
