| What is Asbestos? | | | | may get caught in the lungs and create lung damage. |
| According to the Asbestos Network, asbestos | | | | Or, they may even be swallowed and become |
| actually refers to several naturally occurring minerals. | | | | lodged in membranes of the gastrointestinal track, |
| These minerals have been used in commercial | | | | according to the Asbestos Network. Again, this could |
| products to increase strength and flexibility. The | | | | lead to cancer of the lungs or of the GI tract. So |
| Asbestos Network claims that these minerals are a | | | | while it may be thought that the lungs are the only |
| mix of metals, silicon, oxygen, and hydrogen. | | | | place that can be damaged, it is other parts of the |
| Asbestos, like coal or gold is mined. Some of the | | | | body can be negatively affected by asbestos. |
| countries that mine asbestos include the United | | | | Who is at Risk? |
| Sates, Canada, South America and the former Soviet | | | | According to the Asbestos Network, the "dose" of |
| Union. | | | | asbestos that a person is exposed to equals the |
| Types of Asbestos | | | | combination of the concentration, or the amount of |
| Asbestos is not just one substance; in fact it can be | | | | asbestos in the air, and the duration, or the length of |
| divided into several different types, and these types | | | | time that a person is exposed to asbestos. The |
| can be divided into two basic groups. These two | | | | more asbestos inhaled, the greater the chance of |
| groups are serpentine and amphibole. Environmental | | | | damage to lungs or other internal organs. Also, the |
| Health and Safety claims that the serpentine group | | | | Network says that cigarette smoking increases the |
| only contains one member: chrysotile. This type of | | | | likelihood of contracting an asbestos disease as it |
| asbestos is the most common form found in buildings | | | | decreases the general health of the lungs. The |
| and is also known as "white asbestos." | | | | Asbestos Network also lists several occupations that |
| Both the Asbestos Network and Environmental | | | | may be more likely to suffer from asbestos created |
| Health and Safety list five different types of | | | | diseases. These occupations include construction |
| asbestos within the amphibole group. These five | | | | work, ship building, railroad working and automobile |
| include amosite, crocidolite, anthophyllite, tremolite, | | | | engineers. |
| and actinolite. Amosite is the second most prevalent | | | | How To Avoid It |
| type found in building materials and is also referred to | | | | There are several things that those who work |
| as "brown asbestos." Crocidolite, "blue asbestos," is | | | | around asbestos can do to limit their contact with the |
| found in structures where the materials need to be | | | | cancer causing fibers. The American Lung Association |
| safe from high temperatures. The final three, | | | | of Georgia insists on no eating or drinking while you |
| anthyphyllite, tremolite, and actinolite, are rarely | | | | are working. The Association also urges workers not |
| found. | | | | to smoke and to follow proper guidelines when |
| Problems Related to Asbestos | | | | handling asbestos. Employers that place their |
| The Asbestos Network explains that contact with | | | | employees in asbestos filled areas should have the |
| asbestos can cause diseases such as asbestos lung | | | | employees properly trained on how to handle the |
| cancer and mesothelioma. The fibrous nature of | | | | substance, as well as how to avoid interacting with it. |
| asbestos causes much of the problem. The fibers | | | | |