What are asbestos and what are their health ramifications?
I also asked the same question 3 times, and haven't gotten a proper answer
This is BAD stuff. It gets into your lung, and your lung CANNOT get rid of it, as it can most pollutants.....so it sits there, and causes an increasingly violent inflammatory reaction, and even eventually, after years, into cancer. many, many web sites on this. It is NOT something you want to be around.
From the first reference: Asbestos is a mineral fiber that has been used commonly in a variety of building construction materials for insulation and as a fire-retardant. Because of its fiber strength and heat resistant properties, asbestos has been used for a wide range of manufactured goods, mostly in building materials (roofing shingles, ceiling and floor tiles, paper products, and asbestos cement products), friction products (automobile clutch, brake, and transmission parts), heat-resistant fabrics, packaging, gaskets, and coatings. When asbestos-containing materials are damaged or disturbed by repair, remodeling or demolition activities, microscopic fibers become airborne and can be inhaled into the lungs, where they can cause significant health problems. There are many websites on the subject that a simple search will find. There are also many than have agendas, so be careful.
Background: <a href=www.asbestosexposure-meso.b... is a naturally occurring silicate mineral with long thin fibrous crystals. This naturally occurring substance has been used in fire retardant coatings, bricks, pipes, drywall, and roofing. Its importance became known during the Industrial Revolution and is now being utilized in various ways. Although this mineral has numerous practical appliances, it does have very hazardous effects on the body. If inhaled, asbestos particles are known to cause very serious and potentially fatal diseases such as lung cancer, malignant mesothelioma, and asbestosis. Various other minor effects of asbestos exposure include asbestos warts, pleural plaques, and diffuse pleural thickening. While these conditions can all be a results of asbestos exposure, malignant peritoneal mesothelioma is the most deadly. Basically, mesothelioma is a lethal cancer that attacks the membranes around the lungs, the heart, and the abdominal cavity. Of the various forms of this cancer, mesothelioma of the lung is most common. Mesothelioma of the lung, much like that of lung cancer, is a very deadly and underdiagnosed disease because of the very subtle symptoms. Fortunately fo those who have inhaled asbestos fibers, it takes years for the fibers to infect the membranes and then cause fluid accumulation and even tumor development. Asbestos particles are extremely harmful for they can result in the development of lethal diseases. For a more expansive/ and in-depth look at asbestos, visit this link:
