Asbestos: awareness that could save your life.

As far as I am aware, everyone knows that asbestos is pretty bad. At some stage, most people will have at least heard of a building being quarantined due to disturbed asbestos but how detrimental can it really be to our health? What effects does it have on our body and what preventative measures can be taken? To begin I will outline what asbestos is and why it is so common.

            The use of asbestos has been dated back over 4000 years and contrary to popular belief, it is not man made, it is actually mined. Initially it was used to strengthen cooking utensils and woven into clothes but it was not very commonly used. Later, in the industrial era, manufacturers and builders began utilising asbestos for its favourable properties. Asbestos is resistant to heat, fire, chemical and electrical damage as well as being inexpensive and have high tensile strength. Based on these attributes and lack of knowledge regarding potential health defects, asbestos was widely used in insulation, ceiling tiles, in walls, fireplaces, surrounding boilers, floor tiles amongst other places. Although throughout history it was noted that people working in asbestos mines or in asbestos manufacturing experienced negative health effects, the first documented death relating to asbestos was in 1906. Despite subsequent cases of deaths relating to exposure to asbestos, it was still ordinarily used in construction until legislation passed in 1999 outlawed its use. As a result, many homes, schools, factories and offices built before 2000 can contain asbestos. But do not panic. Asbestos is only dangerous if it is disturbed or damaged.

As you can see,  asbestos can be extremely common around the home. Do remember however that it is harmless unless disturbed so always take care before undertaking any destructive DIY work.

Health defects caused by asbestos

            As aforementioned, exposure to asbestos fibres can be dangerous and often fatal. Asbestos is a generic name for a group of minerals that have severe adverse effects on the respiratory system. Inhalation can cause fibrosis of the lung (known as “asbestosis”) as well as 2 types of malignant tumours making it a prominent carcinogen. Mesothelioma is a tumour of the serosal cells which line the pleural and peritoneal cavities (the external lining of the lung and the lining of the abdomen respectively). This form of cancer is rare but is predominantly seen in individuals whose occupation entails the risk of asbestos inhalation.

The second type of cancer caused by asbestos is bronchogenic carcinoma. This begins as a small lesion within the epithelial cells of the bronchial mucosa which grows and develops into the bronchial lumen. Eventually it can spread to the regional lymph nodes and other distant organs.

            But how does asbestos fibres actually cause cancer? Well asbestos kills cells in a gruesome process known as ‘programmed cell necrosis’. Instead of the cell merely dying and being harmlessly disposed of via macrophages, the cells release group box 1 protein (HMGB1). This protein induces a particular type of inflammatory reaction that causes the release of mutagens and tumour growth factors

Identifying asbestos:

            Below are some images of asbestos, as you can see, it can be rather difficult to identify and comes in a variety of colours (white, brown and blue).

 

The 3 main types of asbestos

White asbestos

An example of a ceiling that contains asbestos

If you discover asbestos or even think you have, don’t panic. If it is in good condition it will not pose a concern to your health. Just ensure that it is not damaged or deteriorated. Importantly, if you are aware of asbestos and your house is being renovated, always inform the tradesperson! Never assume they have identified it.

If you wish to remove asbestos for whatever reason DO NOT THROW IT IN THE BIN OR USE A NORMAL HOOVER. Contact your local council who will dispose of it safely.