There was a time, in the mid to late 80s, when everyone was talking about asbestos. There were news stories about asbestos materials in schools and libraries and other public buildings. People were talking about their worries about remodeling old houses for fear of encountering asbestos. For people who discovered asbestos in their buildings, there was debate over the expense and danger of removing it, versus the expense and danger of leaving it be. All of this sudden awareness of asbestos was due to the fact that instances of an asbestos-related cancer called mesothelioma were on the rise.
Today, the news doesn’t cover many stories about the dangers of asbestos; instead we are treated to multiple commercials about mesothelioma lawsuits. You would think that because asbestos doesn’t get as much press that it’s no longer a problem, but that’s not true. Asbestos in homes and public buildings is still an issue, as is the cancer caused by exposure to it.
What is asbestos?
Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral made primarily of silicone and oxygen. There are two distinct types:
· Chrysotile, also known as white asbestos, which is common used in industrial settings. Chrysotile asbestos has tiny curly fibers that wrap around each other; and,
· Amphibole, which has several different names, including brown asbestos and blue asbestos, and has straight, needle-like fibers.
Asbestos is strong, resistant to chemicals and heat, and doesn’t conduct electricity. On the surface it seemed like the perfect insulator so, starting in the 1900s, people were using it in everything from insulation in schools, and factories, to engine parts and automobile brakes, to ceiling and floor tiles. Asbestos was everywhere.
What’s the problem with asbestos?
When things made of asbestos remain intact, there’s no problem at all. The problems start when the asbestos breaks up and those tiny fibers become airborne. Asbestos fibers are very “sticky” and when they get into the lungs, instead of being expelled when you cough, they stick. Asbestos fibers can also contaminate food, making it possible for you to ingest them and end up with tiny fibers stuck to your digestive tract.
In places where the asbestos has stuck, tissue grows around the fibers and can eventually form into mesothelioma or other forms of cancer.
In the 1980s, when people discovered the danger of asbestos, regulators began taking steps to reduce people’s exposure to it. As a result, many products that were once made with asbestos no longer contain it. However, that doesn’t mean asbestos is no longer a problem. Although there are federal regulations banning the use of asbestos in some instance, there is not a universal ban on the substance. This means that it’s still possible for asbestos to make it into your home. Additionally, older buildings could still contain it within the walls, on the floors, and in the materials used to insulate pipes and ducts.
Online resources can provide a list of asbestos containing products that could be potentially dangerous if they become broken or worn, or are exposed through a routine home remodel. If you have an older home, or just have concerns about whether or not there is asbestos in your home, you can consult one of these lists. If you recognize the names of any of these products, you should consider having your home or garage tested for asbestos.
Asbestos and Cancer
We have talked a little about asbestos and cancer before, in terms of the increases in mesothelioma cases and efforts in the UK to reduce the manufacture of products that contain it. Today we will talk more about why mesothelioma is such a big deal.
The main problem with mesothelioma is that the early symptoms of mesothelioma are so mild that most people ignore them until they get really bad, and by then it’s too late.
Another serous issue is that mesothelioma has a latency period from 20 to 50 years, which means that individuals who were exposed on the job in the 70s could be well past retirement age when they start getting sick.
An additional troubling issue is that asbestos sticks to clothing, so the spouses and families of individuals who worked with asbestos were also at risk for exposure.
Finally, mesothelioma has a very poor survival rate. The median survival time for stage 1 is 21 months, however most people aren’t diagnosed until the advanced stages, when the survival time is significantly lower.
If you believe that you have been exposed to asbestos, and you have chest pain, coughing, and shortness of breath, contact your physician.
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