What is asbestos?

The word “asbestos” derived from ancient Greek (in the 1600s) meaning inextinguishable for substance that would never burn up. Asbestos is heat-resistant fibrous silicate mineral and composed of long and thin fibrous crystals. Each fiber is being composed of many microscopic fibrils that can be released in the atmosphere by abrasion. Asbestos has been used in centuries for its excellent fire and heat resistant and electrical insulator. In the Stone Age, human used asbestos to strengthen ceramic pots. In the 19^th and 20^th centuries asbestos has been used in building materials (such as in acoustic ceiling, popcorn ceiling, carpet and flooring gules, linoleum, stucco, drywall joint compound, hardwood floor felts, plaster, HVAC ducting, duct covering, roofing materials (mastics, tar shingles), and also used in auto industries in break-linings for its excellent physical properties. In the 1970s scientists discovered that the asbestos cause cancer (asbestosis or mesothelioma) and federal government begun regulating the use of asbestos and asbestos products in the 1970s and the use of asbestos was significantly cut back in 1980s. Despite this, asbestos has been still used in many developing countries and can be found in many building products in the developed countries. It is estimated that about 100,000 people die from asbestos exposure per year.

Types of asbestos:

According to Asbestos Hazards Emergency Response ACT (AHERA), there are 6 different types of asbestos. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulates these six types of asbestos 1986, and more than 50 countries have banned them completely. Six types of asbestos are:

Chrysotile (White asbestos): This is the most commonly used form of asbestos, comprising 90 to 95% of asbestos used in the building as well as auto industries and can be found in the ceiling, walls, floors, roofing materials, cement, ducting, duct covering, asphalt, plastics, textiles, break lining, brake pads, rubber, clutches, disk pads, gaskets, etc.

Amosite (Brown asbestos): This asbestos is one of the most hazardous asbestos because of its brittle, sharp, needle-like fibers that can be easily inhaled. It is estimated that amosite makes up about 5% of asbestos in the building material and is the second most commonly used asbestos next to chrysotile. Amosite can be found in cement, chemical, electrical and thermal insulation, fire protection, gaskets, insulation boards, plumbing insulation, roofing products, tiles, etc.

Anthophyllite (Brown to yellowish): This asbestos is composed of long, needle-like fibers that can be easily inhaled into lungs. Anthophyllite was not used as often in consumer products, but can be found in cement, insulation products and construction materials.It also occurs as a contaminant in chrysotile, vermiculite and talc.

Crocidolite (Blue asbestos): This asbestos is considered the most hazardous type of asbestos because of its extremely fine shard fibers that are easy to inhale. Crocidolite is responsible for causing more deaths than any other type of asbestos. This asbestos was rarely used in commercial products because it was found to be much less heat resistant than other types of asbestos. It was used to insulate steam engines, spray-on coatings, pipe insulation, plastics, cement, tiles and insulation materials.

Tremolite ( Milky white to dark green): This asbestos has sharp fibers and can be easily inhaled or ingested and is responsible for causing many asbestos-related cancer and asbestos diseases.. This asbestos is known for its heat resistant properties and can be found in be found in other minerals such as talc, vermiculite, paint, sealants, insulation, roofing and plumbing materials.

Actinolite (dark in color): This asbestos has sharp needle like fibers that when air-borne can be easily inhaled. It can be found in products such as cement, insulation materials, pints, sealants, drywall, talcum powder, vermiculite loose-fill attic insulation, children toys, and structural fireproofing materials made with vermiculite.

Regulations of asbestos:

Asbestos is regulated by federal, state, and local governments.

Federal government: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) mandates that any material containing 1% asbestos by weight is considered an asbestos containing material (ACM) and as applicable shall be disposed of as hazardous waste.

State government (California): The California Code of Regulations (CCR, Title 8) has specific laws and regulations that mandate the proper handling, removal, maintenance and work related to asbestos. Cal-OSHA (California Occupational Safety and Health Administration) requires that any material containing only a tenth of 1% (>0.1%) must be removed and handled by trained and licensed asbestos workers only.

Local government: The local government regulates all asbestos related activity such as demolition, abatement, renovation, proper and accepted method of removal, use of HEPA filtration, glove bag, adequate wetting, dry removal and approved alternative.

Health effects of asbestos:

When asbestos is contained or undisturbed, it poses little danger. When asbestos is disturbed such as cutting, scraping, sanding, grinding, it releases microscopic fibers into the air and easily inhaled by people around then. Once inhaled, asbestos fiber can enter in the bronchioles and alveoli (the tiny sacs inside the lungs where oxygen is exchanged for carbon dioxide in the blood) pierce in the lung tissue. Prolonged exposure to these asbestos fibers can scar lung tissue, causing lungs to become stiff and difficult to breathe.

Asbestos symptoms can range from mild to severe, usually do not appear until many years after continued exposure. The symptoms include shortness of breath, a persistent, dry cough, loss of appetite with weight loss, fingertips and toes that appear wider and rounder than normal (clubbing), and chest tightness or pain. As asbestosis progresses, more and more lung tissue becomes scarred and lung tissue becomes so stiff that it cannot contract and expand normally.

Who are at risk of asbestosis:

People who worked in mining, milling, manufacturing, installation of removal of asbestos products before 1970s are at high risk of asbestos. Risk of asbestosis is generally related to the amount and duration of exposure to asbestos. The higher the exposure, the higher the risk there is for the lung tissue. The high risk people are asbestos miners, aircraft and auto mechanics, boiler operators, building construction workers, electricians, railroad workers, refinery and mill workers, shipyard workers, workers removing and asbestos insulation around steam pipes in older buildings. People living close to mines may also be exposed to asbestos fibers released in the air. Libby, Montana, is the site of one of America's worst man-made environmental disasters. Toxic asbestos dust from the vermiculite mines that helped the town prosper for decades has killed hundreds of residents, sickening thousands more. An estimated 400 Libby residents have died and almost 3,000 more are currently suffering illnesses related to asbestos exposure such as mesothelioma.