Asbestos related disease is a ramification of the commercial use of what is actually a combination of six natural silicate minerals. The common denominator and the cause of many health problems are the inherent long strands of crystal fibers. When these fibers are inhaled they can cause various terminal lung cancers and an affliction called asbestosis. These usually occur with concentrated exposure over a long period of time.
Widely used between the end of the 19th century and the 1970s, asbestos was prized for its strength and anti-inflammable properties. When more and more evidence of harmful effects became known countries began to implement safeguards to protect workers. Today, it is banned entirely within the European Union, for both use and extraction.
As the dangers of exposure became more apparent in the United States, the Congress created OSHA or the Occupational Safety and Health Act in 1970. Ever since OSHA regulations have worked toward making workplace environments safe. However, even with all the evidence pointing to the ramifications of exposure, a total ban has not been put into place to date. This despite the efforts of the Environmental Protection Agency.
One of the more common effects of long term exposure is a thickening of the lung tissue also known as pulmonary fibrosis, a prevalent symptom of asbestosis disease. As the lung tissue thickens normal lung function is impaired causing shortness of breath and at times, coughing and fatigue. The problem begins when the small razor sharp fibers are inhaled into the lungs. Once situated the fibers are almost impossible to remove.
Other ramifications of exposure include malignant lung cancers, as well as a fairly rare form known as mesothelioma. So called because the cancer affects the mesothelium membranes that encompass several organs. The visceral membrane around the abdomen is referred to as the peritoneum, the heart is the pericardium and the lungs the pleura.
Considering the damaging nature of the crystal fibers it is not surprising that asbestos related disease exits even after decades of regulation. This is primarily due to the fact that the ramifications of exposure take several years, even decades to materialize.
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