Understanding Asbestos and Its Hazards

Sep 8, 2024

Lecture on Asbestos

Introduction

  • Trace from DNews conducting the lecture.
  • Discussion on asbestos, a hazardous material in old homes/buildings.
  • Commercial use in North America for over a century.
  • In 2016, the EPA evaluated it as a high priority risk, potentially banning it.

What is Asbestos?

  • Originally identified in ancient Greece, 300 BCE.
  • Looks like rotten wood, resistant to fire.
  • Not man-made or chemical; it's a group of six naturally occurring silicate minerals.
  • Found in rock and soil, in 900 regions across the US.
  • Properties:
    • Stronger than steel and fire-resistant.
    • Does not biodegrade, decompose, dissolve in water, or evaporate.

Types of Asbestos

  • Amesite: Brown asbestos.
  • Chrysitilite: Blue asbestos.
  • Chrysatil: White asbestos.
  • Other types: Actinolite, Anthropolite, Tremolite.
  • White asbestos is softer, more flexible, used in 95% of asbestos products.

Uses of Asbestos

  • Heat-resistant fabrics, paints, plastics, paper products.
  • Car brakes and clutches.
  • Building materials such as roofing, siding, flooring, and insulation.

Health Risks

  • Airborne Asbestos: When crumbled, asbestos becomes thin threads.
  • Risks of inhaling/swallowing these threads, especially for construction workers.
  • No immediate symptoms like coughing or sneezing.
  • Invisible, odorless, tasteless.
  • Protective Equipment: Essential for those working with asbestos.

Health Effects

  • According to OSHA:
    • Hazard for 1.3 million US construction workers.
  • EPA: Asbestos is a known carcinogen.
  • Health issues include:
    • Lung cancer.
    • Mesothelioma: Cancer in lung lining.
    • Asbestosis: Long-term lung disease.
  • Statistics:
    • 200,000 asbestosis cases annually in the US.
    • Over 6,000 deaths from related diseases.

Regulation and Bans

  • Regulated since the 1970s in the US.
    • Checks in drinking water, schools, consumer products, workplace air.
  • Some uses banned: Certain paper and spray-on materials.
  • Potential for a complete ban by the EPA.

Conclusion

  • Asbestos: A naturally occurring material used throughout history, with fatal consequences.
  • Importance of regulation and awareness to manage the risks.
  • Highlights misconception of natural = safe.
  • Encouragement for further scientific inquiries and understanding.