Bad Effects of Asbestos Exposure- Are They Myths?

Asbestos has been long used in different products mainly because of its flame-and heat resistance. When used as such, the substance is often mixed into cements or woven into fabric. It has great tensile strength which makes it appealing for manufacturers. Not many people realize the fact that asbestos has actually been used in ancient history. It is said that Charlemagne's tablecloth had asbestos woven into it and that it was actually cleaned by being thrown into the fire. It may seem that the material is entirely wonderful but it does have a sinister side. In this article, we will discuss the question about the bad effects of asbestos exposure, whether they are myths or not.

Are they myths? Asbestos exposure today has very bad connotations. Especially since there are more than 600,000 people who are suing over 6,000 companies because they believe these companies' usage of asbestos has caused their health problems. In the early 1900's cases were already being reported about asbestos workers who developed lung problems. However, it was during the 1920's that the first case of asbestosis -the scarring of lungs by asbestos fibers. Asbestosis is a very disabling disease since everyone knows that we depend on our lungs for our lives. This also means that asbestosis is potentially deadly.

Asbestos factory workers have obviously been exposed to the substance in question here. So if you find yourself asking about the bad effects of asbestos exposure and if they are myths, then you should turn to their cases. Although you might not be exposed to the same amount of asbestos as these workers were, over time, you could accumulate the same amount of the substance in your body.

Bad effects of asbestos exposure: are they myths? The answer to this question also depends on the effects that we are talking about and what type of exposure the question involves. Some people have spread that asbestos somehow causes cancer because of radioactivity. However, you should know that this is a myth. The risk of asbestos exposure lies in the fact that the fibers are very tiny. This means that those same fibers can be airborne and could get absorbed through the lungs. The actual type of cancer you can get from asbestos is lung cancer. In a sense, the question regarding cancers as an effect of asbestos exposure, of whether they are myths can be answered by saying both yes and no. Yes, asbestos exposure may cause cancer and no, it does not cause skin cancer.

Another myth involving asbestos exposure is used by various companies to persuade people to use cement products. These companies claim that asbestos fibers present no danger since they are "locked in" the cement. Many people are convinced that this is true, since it does seem highly unlikely for something like cement to produce airborne fibers. Many people believe that it is unnecessary to examine these statements regarding asbestos exposure if they are myths or not.

Actually, as said before, this is a myth. Although the cement mixture does not give off asbestos fibers when it is still in putty form, there is a different issue altogether when it is dried. This is because cement walls which have asbestos mixed into them do release the fibers when they are dried. Combine this with the fact that cement is normally worn down and you can make sure that those asbestos fibers will find their way inside your lungs.

Another issue regarding asbestos exposure often talked about is the actual danger associated with exposure to different colors of asbestos. In the past, companies have continued to emphasize that blue asbestos and brown asbestos are more dangerous and deadly than other types. This is because these types of asbestos have larger fibers and could cause scarring. People ask about these statements regarding asbestos exposure if they are myths, but actually they are not. Blue and brown asbestos are more dangerous than white -which is the type most commonly used in manufacturing. However, you will notice that it wasn't actually stated that white asbestos is perfectly safe. The questions about these statements concerning asbestos exposure (if they are myths) tend to be sidetracked because of the issue regarding asbestos color. What you should really keep in mind is that asbestos is dangerous no matter what color it is.

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Posted in: Asbestos,Effects,Exposure,Myths