6 Things You Didn’t Know About Asbestos

Asbestos. It’s one of those things you have probably heard about on TV, but don’t know much about. Keep reading to learn 6 things that you probably didn’t know about asbestos.

Asbestos is a natural substance that can be mined from soil and rock.

Asbestos is a naturally occurring substance, made up of six minerals in the form of a long strand, with thin, fibrous crystals. The microscopic fibers can become airborne, and that is when they are toxic. While the substance has been mined for over 4,000 years, large scale mining began in the 19th century. By the late 1970’s over 4.5 billion tons were being mined annually.

Asbestos is banned in over 60 countries.

While asbestos is banned in over 60 countries, it is still NOT BANNED in the United States or Canada. These are two of the only industrialized countries that are yet to ban the substance. The Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act has made it so the EPA has the ability to deem a substance as dangerous, which could potentially help with banning asbestos in the U.S.

Asbestos can be found in many everyday products.

Despite regulations in place restricting the use of asbestos, you can still find asbestos in a variety of products. The EPA lists some examples of products where asbestos is banned, or not banned here, and you can find another list of common places that it is found here.

Asbestos can cause serious health conditions.

When disturbed and airborne, asbestos particles become toxic. When inhaled, asbestos attaches to the mesothelium tissue which can be found in the lungs, abdomen and heart. Over time this can cause a variety of different health problems. Potentially the most severe being mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is a very rare and aggressive form of cancer that can affect any three of those locations. About 3,000 people are diagnosed with it each year in the U.S. Exposure to asbestos can also result in lung cancer, a more common type of cancer affecting the lungs, or asbestosis, a chronic lung disease.

Approximately 12,000-15,000 people die from asbestos in the U.S. per year.

According to Asbestos Nation asbestos kills anywhere between 12,000 and 15,000 people in the United States each year. This number includes deaths from mesothelioma, asbestosis and lung cancer. Worldwide it is estimated that 43,000 people in the world die annually from mesothelioma alone, so it is unbelieveable to think of how many people died from asbestos-caused mesothelioma, asbestosis and lung cancer combined.

Asbestos should always be removed by a pro.

If you suspect that your home contains asbestos (most homes built before the 1980’s do), you should have it checked by a professional. If you have asbestos, and it needs to be removed, use an abatement professional. Do not attempt to do it yourself!