Asbestos becomes potentially hazardous because of its fibers which when disturbed gets airborne thus polluting the air we breathe in. Various health conditions can occur once the asbestos enters the body and into the lining of the lungs and the body simply cannot remove its fibers away. Initially, amphibole asbestos was considered more dangerous because of the long, thin fibers. Experts thought that these fibers would be able to easily enter the lung tissue than the fibers of chrysotile asbestos, which are curlier in shape. But conversely, many research studies have shown that this is not the case. Chrysotile asbestos fibers can in fact become lodged in a person’s lungs. Asbestos is the sole cause of mesothelioma cancer.
One should note that asbestos can become harmful only when the fibers become airborne. Therefore, if a surrounding in an area has asbestos in it then it should be carefully examined and verified that the particles remain undisturbed and that the area remains safe. Moreover, if fibers are ground in machines or sanded then it can become “friable asbestos” that is, it has the potential to become airborne when a certain amount of pressure is applied to them.
Exposure to asbestos can cause various asbestos-related diseases, including malignant mesothelioma. It has also been proven to be the source of health conditions such as asbestosis and pulmonary fibrosis. Unfortunately, people are known to develop asbestos-related diseases by even being around the garments worn by those who were exposed to asbestos.
