Where Can I Find Asbestos? Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral fiber used in various products, including building materials, insulation, and fireproofing.
Asbestos Common Material
It may still be present in older buildings and homes, particularly those built before the 1980s.
If you suspect your home or workplace may contain asbestos, it is essential to handle the material cautiously and take appropriate precautions to avoid inhaling the fibers. If you need to remove or disturb asbestos-containing materials, it is important to hire a professional trained in handling asbestos to do the work. Inhaling asbestos fibers can cause serious health problems, including lung cancer and mesothelioma, a cancer of the chest and abdominal cavities.
Exposure
- Occupational exposure: People who work in construction, shipbuilding, and manufacturing are at a higher risk of exposure on the job. This can occur when they handle asbestos-containing materials or work in an area where asbestos is present.
- Environmental exposure: can also be present in the air in certain areas, such as near asbestos mines or processing plants. People living or working in these areas may be at risk of inhaling asbestos fibers.
- Secondhand exposure: People can be exposed through someone who has come into contact with it. For example, a family member or caregiver who launders the clothes of someone may be at risk of secondhand exposure.
- Demolition or renovation: used in various building materials, including insulation, floor tiles, and roofing shingles. When these materials are disturbed during demolition or renovation, asbestos fibers can be released into the air and inhaled by people in the area.
Health Effects From Exposure to Asbestos
Breathing in asbestos fibers can cause a variety of health problems, including:
- Asbestosis: a chronic lung disease that occurs when the fibers cause scarring on the lung tissue. Symptoms include shortness of breath, coughing, and chest pain.
- Mesothelioma: a rare cancer of the lining of the chest and abdomen that is almost always caused by exposure to asbestos.
- Lung cancer: asbestos exposure can increase the risk of lung cancer.
- Other cancers: asbestos has also been linked to other cancers, including throat, stomach, colon, and kidney cancer.
It can also cause non-cancerous problems, such as pleural plaques, pleural effusions, and pleuritis (inflammation of the pleural lining).
People who smoke and are exposed have an increased risk of developing lung cancer.
If you think you may have been exposed to asbestos, it is important to talk to a healthcare provider or Reach Us. They can assess your risk and recommend any necessary testing or treatment.
