Asbestos is the name given to a selection of minerals which are made up of microscopic fibres. When these fibres are inhaled, they can be very harmful to your lungs.
These are the four main diseases associated with inhaling asbestos fibres:
Non-malignant pleural disease
Asbestosis – which is scarring of a non-malignant type occurring in the lung tissue
Lung cancer associated with asbestos
Mesothelioma – a type of cancer which affects the lung lining
What exactly is asbestos?
Asbestos is the name given to a mineral group consisting of microscopic fibres. Before any danger to health was realised, asbestos was often used in structures in the form of insulation, in the floors or rooftops and sprayed onto both ceilings and walls. Today it banned and forbidden for use in the UK. However, buildings built before 2000 may still have asbestos in them. If asbestos-containing material in the building remains intact, they pose very little risk. The danger arises when these materials are moved, removed, damaged or broken up that the small asbestos fibres become released into the atmosphere and inhaled into the lungs.
The danger of asbestos becomes a reality when it comes to demolishing older properties. It’s important that companies involved in demolition, deconstruction or salvaging have asbestos experts on hand so that all work can be carried out in a safe and healthy manner. For Asbestos Removal Birmingham, visit a site like https://www.tesenvironmental-ltd.co.uk/
The symptoms of asbestos-related diseases take years – even decades – appeared after the original exposure to asbestos, so long exposures may only appear as the disease today.
Who are the people most at risk?
You are at high risk of lung damage if you have been exposed to asbestos for a long time in the workplace. People at high risk are those who have worked as:
Electricians
Carpenters
Painters
Plumbers
Asbestos miners
Construction workers
Those who have ever worked in the shipbuilding industry, as a rail engineer or in a factory setting that manufactured products made from asbestos, will also have a higher risk of contracting a lung disease. You may also be at risk if you live with someone who was regularly exposed to asbestos as well.