The word asbestos comes from the ancient Greek meaning indestructible or inextinguishable. It is strong, flexible, water and heat resistant, cheap and easy to use. With this top qualities, asbestos was seen over 100 years ago as the exemplary building material. As a consequence, over 30 million tons of asbestos was utilized in the last century in the construction of factories, office buildings, schools, shipyards, homes. Very often asbestos was used as insulation and fireproofing on industrial equipment such as boilers and turbines, and placed on millions of miles of piping.
The real truth is asbestos was everywhere in our life. Even everyday items such as toasters, ironing boards, dryers, and low-density insulation products contained this wonder material.
After 1940 many scientific studies suggested a correlation between asbestos exposure and cancer. In 1955, scientists confirmed what had long been suspected: a direct link between inhalation or/and ingestion of asbestos fibers and the development of mesothelioma, a fatal form of lung cancer. It was the end of asbestos revolution. A very severe legislation interdicted handling and manufacturing asbestos without a special protection. Later the use and production of asbestos has been forbidden in US and old 15 members of European Union.
Why asbestos is so dangerous? Because it is indestructible. Tiny fibers inhaled are not soluble in lymph or stomach enzymes. So they cannot be eliminate by urine, sweating or so on. They remain in human body, creating accumulation of harmful particles. It is still unknown how asbestos leads in mesothelioma, but the correlation between asbestos and mesothelioma is certain.
Despite of severe law, asbestos is still part of our environment. If your home is older than 30 years you may suspect the asbestos presence. If your car is older than 25 years you may have asbestos in brake and clutch system. You must be aware and you must tell this things to children and youngs.
Just try to imagine: a few children on their way back from school watch the demolishing of a building from the 1950s-1960s. A giant bulldozer fight against the ground flour. For a short moment, huge quantities of asbestos fibers become airborne. And your child is there because nobody told him.
Valerian D is a freelance writer specialized in harmful issues affecting men and women as well such as asbestos exposure.
