What are the health risks of asbestos?

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Asbestos is a naturally occurring silicone mineral that was used frequently in construction in the 19^th century because it was very resistant to heat, electricity, and chemical damage. While nobody knew how dangerous it was, asbestos has caused many cases of cancer.

OSHA Standards

As the threat to people’s health is so great, the government came up with the OSHA standards . OSHA stands for Occupational Safety and Health Agency and the standards require employers to "furnish to each of his employees employment and a place of employment which are free from recognized hazards that are causing or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm to his employees." That means, basically, that people working in industries like construction or someone working on a shipyard – people who are in the most danger of being exposed to asbestos – must be provided a safe, asbestos-free environment by government law .

Hazards of Asbestos

Asbestos is extremely deadly to humans. Exposure to asbestos causes tumors to develop. It also causes mesothelioma , a kind of cancer that is almost always caused by asbestos. Mesothelioma causes cancerous cells to develop in the mesothelium (the protective lining that covers the body’s organs.) It occurs most often in the lungs . It can also cause asbestos warts to grow on the skin and it can cause either pleural plaques (thickened areas that are generally harmless) or more serious diffuse pleural thickening , which can cause extensive lung damage.

Evaluating Asbestos Exposure

Many people who were exposed to asbestos were exposed before regulations were imposed so they are unaware that they were even exposed. Doctors evaluate if someone has been exposed to asbestos by consulting what they call a “ risk matrix .” They consult the risk matrix, which is basically a set of questions that determine how likely it was that someone was exposed to asbestos in the past. They also weigh that matrix against any symptoms that a person may not be exhibiting.

Worker Protection

Thankfully, current regulations require workers to be protected from asbestos exposure. These regulations are the worker’s first line of defense against exposure. Building controllers are required to find any materials likely to contain asbestos and to keep up-to-date records if asbestos is present, which is becoming rare these days. They must have a plan of action to minimize risk of exposure and they must inform all workers that they are beginning work on a premise which has asbestos. They are also required to wear respirators – not paper masks – so that, should any asbestos get airborne, it will not be able to enter the lungs.

Training

People who work with asbestos must be trained before they do it. The EPA requires someone to take classes on how to properly inspect for asbestos as well as how to repair and remove it. There is actually a national institute for asbestos training.

Other Information and Links

There have been many lawsuits filed over asbestos exposure.

• EPA Page On Asbestos


• Mesotheliomia & Asbestos Awareness Center


• CDC Page On Asbestos

Since the dangers of asbestos were discovered, many workers have been placed in safer and better working conditions.

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Get more facts and information about asbestos from A Dictionary of Nursing at Encyclopedia.com.