Asbestos is a silicate mineral, mined from the earth in much the same way as any other mineral. The wide use of asbestos over thousands of years is due to its resistance to heat and chemicals.
Types Of Asbestos:
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WHITE ASBESTOS (Chrysotile) has curly fibres which are difficult to separate. They are white to grey in colour.
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BROWN ASBESTOS (Amosite) is the type of asbestos found most often in sprayed insulation materials.
- BLUE ASBESTOS (Crocidolite)
What are the health effects of asbestos exposure?
Asbestos is known to be very toxic, especially following prolonged exposure. The
ill health effects of exposure to asbestos arise from breathing in, and retention of, very small fibres of asbestos.
The finest asbestos fibres, with a diameter of less than .0008mm, penetrate deep into the lungs of exposed workers and are never removed. The longest of the fibres defy the body's normal defences and clearance mechanisms. Over time, the diseases caused by asbestos are:
ASBESTOSIS
Progressive scarring (fibrosis) of the lung, leading to pain, and breathlessness. The first symptoms can appear 15 to 20 years after exposure. The condition can lead to more serious conditions, and there is no known cure.
LUNG CANCER
Tumours of the bronchial tubes and lungs, occurring up to 25 to 30 years after first exposure, and normally fatal. The risk increases greatly in workers who smoke. The ICFTU estimate that at least one case of lung cancer in 10 is caused by exposure to asbestos
MESOTHELIOMA
A cancer of the lining of the chest (pleura) or of the abdomen (peritoneum), this tumour thickens the lining and may eventually totally enclose the lung. Painful and invariably fatal, it usually develops 20 - 30 years after sometimes even minimal exposure. The Annual Mesothelioma Report - 2008 [pdf] reveals that the number of new cases of mesothelioma in Australia increased dramatically between 1982 and 2004. In 2005, 522 deaths were attributed to the disease. Asbestos was widely used up until the late 1980's and with a latency period between exposure to asbestos fibres and the diagnosis of mesothelioma of up to 40 years, the authors report that mesothelioma should peak by 2021.
OTHER CANCERS
Of the larynx, stomach, large intestine and possibly of ovary, breast, kidney and bone marrow.
All of these cancers and, in particular mesothelioma, have been produced in humans and in animals BY ALL FORMS OF ASBESTOS. (See short video 'Diseases from Inhaling Asbestos')
There are a number of asbestos support groups that can provide information and assistance to victims of asbestos related diseases and their families.
Other indications of asbestos exposure are:
- pleural plaques - patches of thickening of the lining of the chest wall and over the diaphragm;
- pleural effusion - collection of fluid within the chest but outside the lung.
What has Asbestos been used for and where is it found?
Most asbestos went into buildings or ships as pipe and boiler lagging, fire insulations panels and asbestos cement sheets. There were hundreds of other asbestos products and processes, including:
- Insulation - sprayed onto structures; fire blankets, gloves, pads; string, tape, paper; insulation board;
- Friction Materials - clutches; disc brake pads; brake linings;
- Reinforced Products - asbestos cement slabs, sheeting, pipes; floor tiles; composite board; roofing felt; underseals, paints; gaskets, washers, valve-packing.
Asbestos is likely to be in a building if:
- It was built or refurbished between 1950 and the mid 1980's in particular;
- It is also has a steel frame; and/or
- It has boilers with thermal insulation.
Further Information on this site:
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Summary of the Asbestos section of the Occupational Health and Safety Regulations 2007 (Coming soon)
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Useful websites and other information
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Asbestos - in the home : some advice to householders on what to do if they suspect they have asbestos products in their homes.
- FAQ:
Where can I dispose of asbestos waste? It is illegal to dispose of asbestos unless the premises are licensed
- List of VTHC Approved Licensed Asbestos Removalists