Facts to know about Asbestos

Facts to know about Asbestos

Asbestos is a set of six naturally occurring silicate minerals with formula Mg₃Si₂O₅(OH)_4. Chrysotile is one of the six minerals that are regulated as “asbestos”. The five others are tremolite, anthophyllte, amosite (grunerite), crocidolite (riebeckite), and actinolite. They are commonly known by their colors, as “blue asbestos“, “brown asbestos“, “white asbestos“, and green asbestos.

The mining of Asbestos began more than 4,000 years ago but was still in small scale until the mid-20th century that researchers officially established the connection between asbestos exposure and serious respiratory conditions (although evidence was presented as early as the 1920s). But by then, millions of workers had already been exposed in the workplace and in other locations.

Asbestos exposure has been linked to the development of serious respiratory diseases and cancers, including lung cancer, mesothelioma, asbestosis, and other conditions. Asbestos exposure is most commonly related to occupational, environmental and secondhand factors.

The severity of asbestos-related diseases, the material’s extremely widespread use in many areas of life, its continuing long-term use after harmful health effects were known or suspected, and fact that asbestos-related diseases can emerge decades after exposure ceases. 

Harmful exposures happen in a wide range of occupational settings. Construction work and home renovations can be especially hazardous because many common building materials contain asbestos. When asbestos products start to deteriorate, or someone cuts, sands, drills or otherwise disturbs them, microscopic fibers enter the air.

Facts to know about Asbestos