Asbestos - Increase the risk of lung cancer and Mesothelioma ...

What is asbestos?

Asbestos is the name given to a group of minerals that occur naturally in the environment as bundles of fibers that can be separated into thin, durable threads. These fibers are resistant to heat, fire, and chemicals and do not conduct electricity. For these reasons, asbestos has been used widely in many industries.

Chemical, asbestos minerals are silicate compounds, meaning they contain silicon and oxygen atoms in their molecular structure.

Asbestos minerals are divided into two major groups: Serpentine asbestos and amphibole asbestos. Serpentine asbestos minerals including chrysotile, which has long, curly fibers that can be woven. Chrysotile asbestos is the form that has been used most widely in commercial applications. Amphibole asbestos minerals, including actinolite, tremolite, anthophyllite, crocidolite, and amosite. Amphibole asbestos has straight, needle-like fibers are more brittle than serpentine asbestos and more limited in their ability to be made.

? How is asbestos used?

Asbestos has been mined and used commercially in North America since the 1800s. Its use greatly increased during World War II. Since then, asbestos has been used in many industries. For example, building and construction industry has used it for strengthening cement and plastics as well as for the absorption of insulation, roofing, fireproofing, and sound. Shipbuilding industry has used asbestos to protect the boilers, steam pipes and hot water pipes. The automotive industry uses asbestos in vehicle brake shoes and clutch pads. Asbestos has also been used in ceiling tiles and flooring; paints, coatings, and adhesives, and plastics. In addition, asbestos has been found in vermiculite-containing garden products and some talc-containing crayons.

In the late 1970s, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) banned the use of asbestos in wallboard patching compounds and gas fireplaces because the asbestos fibers in these products can be released into the environment during use. In addition, electric hair dryer manufacturers voluntarily stopped using asbestos in their products in 1979. In 1989, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) banned all new uses of asbestos, but uses developed before 1989 are still allowed. EPA also established regulations that require school systems to inspect buildings for the presence of damaged asbestos and to eliminate or reduce asbestos exposure to occupants by removing the asbestos or wrap it.

In June 2000, the CPSC concluded that the risk of children?s exposure to asbestos fibers in crayons very low. However, U.S. manufacturers of these crayons agreed to eliminate talc from their products.

In August 2000, EPA conducted a series of tests to evaluate the risk of adverse health effects for consumers associated with exposure to asbestos-contaminated vermiculite. EPA concluded that exposure to asbestos from some vermiculite products pose health risks were minimal. EPA recommends that consumers reduce the low risk associated with occasional use of vermiculite during gardening activities by limiting the amount of dust generated during the use of vermiculite. Specifically, EPA recommends that consumers use vermiculite outdoors or in well-ventilated area, keep vermiculite damp while using it; avoid bringing dust from vermiculite into the home on clothing, and use a potting soil mix, which is less likely to generate dust.
Rules described above and other actions, coupled with widespread public concern about the health hazards of asbestos, have resulted in a significant annual decline in U.S. use of asbestos. Domestic consumption of asbestos amounted to about 803,000 metric tons in 1973, but dropped to about 2,400 metric tons in 2005.

What are the health hazards of asbestos exposure?

People may be exposed to asbestos in their workplace, their communities, or their homes. If products containing asbestos are disturbed, tiny asbestos fibers are released into the air. When asbestos fibers are inhaled, they may be trapped in the lungs and remain there for a long time. Over time, these fibers can accumulate and cause scarring and inflammation, which can affect breathing and lead to serious health problems.

Asbestos has been classified as a known human carcinogen (a substance that causes cancer) by the Department of Health and Human Services, EPA, and the International Agency for Research on Cancer. Research has shown that exposure to asbestos may increase the risk of lung cancer and mesothelioma (a relatively rare cancer of the thin membrane that lines the chest and abdomen). Although rare, mesothelioma is the most common form of cancer linked to asbestos exposure. In addition to lung cancer and mesothelioma, some studies have shown an association between asbestos exposure and gastrointestinal and colorectal cancers, as well as increased risk for cancer of the throat, kidney, esophagus, and gallbladder. However, the evidence is not convincing.

Exposure to asbestos can also increase the risk of asbestosis (an inflammation that affects the lungs can cause shortness of breath, coughing, and permanent lung damage) and lung cancer and other nonmalignant pleural disorders, including pleural plaques (changes in the lining of the lungs ), pleural thickening, and benign pleural effusions (abnormal collections of fluid between the thin layer of tissue that lines the lungs and chest wall). Although pleural plaques are not precursors to lung cancer, evidence suggests that people with pleural disease caused by asbestos exposure may be at increased risk for lung cancer. ? author: signs cancer

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