Table of Contents
Asbestos Abatement Services in Los Angeles California helps to test and provide inspection services for asbestos, among other premium quality services.
What Is Asbestos?
Asbestos is a strong naturally occurring mineral fiber, which is used mostly in the manufacture of building materials(roofing, cement, tiles), friction products (brake, automobile clutch, etc), and heat-resistant materials.
Asbestos are in six main different types, which are:
- Chrysolite
- Actinolite
- Amosite
- Anthophyllite
- Crocidolite
- Tremolite
They are fibrous but only differ in shape and color type. Also, they can be classified into two major groups based on their physical and chemical properties;
- Serpentine: These are long, flexible, and curved fibers, which can be woven together. The main type of this asbestos is chrysolite, the main type of asbestos in manufacturing.
- Amphibole: These are straight, stiff, brittle, and rod-shaped fibers, with limited commercial usefulness. All other types belong to this group.
Why Is Asbestos Potentially Harmful?
Exposure to asbestos fibers poses a danger to your health. When materials that contain asbestos are destroyed, fibers are released into the air. Inhalation of such polluted air
Increases the risk of many serious diseases.
It’s rare for people who are not exposed to high amounts of asbestos to have such diseases but highly likely for people working or had worked with asbestos.
And it might take years after several exposures to see noticeable symptoms. Meanwhile, smokers that are exposed to asbestos are at greater risk. Smoking is like a ticking bomb, it aggravates the condition.
Diseases That Are Caused Due To Asbestos
- Asbestosis
This is a chronic lung disease caused by inhaling asbestos fibers. Constant exposure to these fibers can cause lung tissue scarring(which causes the lungs to shrink and harden) and shortness of breath.
The symptoms range from mild to severe and don’t appear until many years after exposure. Asbestosis has no cure, it can only be managed.
Patients with asbestosis also have weak immune systems, which increases the risk of having several infections.
- Mesothelioma
Another serious disease caused by exposure to asbestos is mesothelioma. This is cancer of the thin membrane that lines the chest and abdomen.
It is life-threatening but symptoms don’t surface until many years after exposure ( specifically 20-60 years) which is when tumors would have grown and spread.
People with a history of radiation treatment are more likely to develop this disease.
- Cancer of the gastrointestinal tract and throat
Asbestos increases the risk of gastrointestinal cancers (pancreatic cancer, liver, gallbladder, colon, rectal, and stomach cancers) in people who are exposed to this hazardous mineral fiber.
It doesn’t present any symptoms in the early stages, until many years after exposure. And this decreases early diagnosis and possible management.
Not only does it cause the above diseases, but it can also cause cancer of the ovary, larynx, and pharynx.
As it affects humans, it also has the same effect on animals.
- Asbestos causes pollution
Although asbestos is naturally present in the environment, it cannot be easily disturbed because it lies deep in the rock.
But activities of construction, mining, and manufacturing release asbestos into the environment. This contaminates the air, water, and soil which can be inhaled and ingested by humans. The animals on land and water can also develop asbestos-related diseases through this pollution. Plants grown on such soil are potentially toxic.
Occupations With High Exposure To Asbestos
Several workers are at a very high risk of being exposed to asbestos. These include:
Firefighters, industrial workers, construction workers, power plant workers, shipyard workers, mechanics, drywall installers, electricians, foundry workers, laborers, aircraft workers, carpenters, and air-conditioning workers.