Asbestos
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This document defines asbestos and where it is commonly found in products such as floor tiles, brake linings, and insulation. It describes the health hazards of asbestos exposure such as lung cancer, mesothelioma, and asbestosis. Asbestos fibers are very small and can easily be inhaled, causing serious health issues. The document provides tips for avoiding asbestos exposure including not disturbing asbestos materials and taking proper safety precautions like wearing protective masks and gloves when exposure may occur.
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Asbestos
- 1. Asbestos Supervision by: Dr. Mohamed Gad Shahien Edited by : Mostafa Abdel Azim Masoud
- 2. Objectives: Participants will: • Define what is asbestos • Describe where asbestos is found • Explain associated health hazards • Illustrate how to protect yourself and co-workers against asbestos hazards • Analyze and discuss case studies
- 4. Different properties of Asbestos • All types of asbestos tend to break into very tiny fibers. • These individual fibers are so small they must be identified using a microscope. • Some fibers may be up to 700 times smaller than a human hair.
- 5. Different properties of Asbestos • Asbestos fibers are also virtually indestructible. • Resistant to chemicals and heat, and they are very stable in the environment. • Do not evaporate into air or dissolve in water, and they are not broken down over time. • Asbestos is probably the best insulator known to man. • Resistant to heat and corrosive chemicals
- 6. Asbestos Facts Usually asbestos is mixed with other materials to actually form the products. Floor tiles, for example, may contain only a small percentage of asbestos. Depending on what the product is, the amount of asbestos in asbestos containing materials (ACM) may vary from 1%-100%.
- 7. Where is Asbestos Found? • Adhesives, Cements, Mortar, Sealers • Millboard • Brake linings and clutch pads
- 8. More Products of More Asbestos • Cement Pipes, Cement Boards, Sheets, Plastics • Clay, Compounds, Paints, Plasters • Electrical, Mechanical Products • Home Use Products • Cigarette Filters • Pipe Covering • Protective clothing
- 10. Health Affects of Asbestos Exposure • Asbestos exposure is the only confirmed cause of mesothelioma, a fatal form of cancer that typically manifests in the lungs • Lung Cancer • Asbestosis
- 11. Signs and Symptoms of asbestosis can include: • Shortness of breath is the primary symptom • A persistent and productive cough (a cough that expels mucus) • Chest tightness • Chest pain • Loss of appetite • A dry, crackling sound in the lungs while inhaling.
- 12. Cigarette Smoke and Asbestos • Cigarette smoke and asbestos together will increase your chances of getting lung cancer. • If you have been exposed to asbestos you should stop smoking. • This may be the most important action that you can take to improve your health and decrease your risk of cancer.
- 13. How to Avoid Asbestos Exposure • If you do not know that a building material is asbestos free…….DONOT DISTURB IT. Never Drill Break Hammer Damage Cut Move Saw Disturb
- 14. How to Avoid Asbestos Exposure • Personnel should understand how to protect themselves • In the event that asbestos fibers become airborne and may be inhaled • Wear a mask to prevent inhalation of asbestos fibers • Safety gear such as gloves or booties that cover your shoes should be worn, to prevent the spread of asbestos fibers to other areas
- 15. Good Housekeeping Rules • Custodians should never sand or dry buff asbestos containing floor tiles • Broken and fallen ceiling tiles should be left in place until identified • Broken and damaged asbestos floor tiles must also be removed by asbestos abatement workers • Be aware of where asbestos may be hiding and takes actions not to disturb
- 16. Asbestos Emergency Kit • Gloves • Protective eyewear • Disposable clothing • Booties • Garbage bags • Water bottle • Important Telephone numbers
- 17. Summary • We talked about the definition of asbestos and where asbestos is found. • Describe where asbestos is found • Explain associated health hazards • Recap on protection measures for yourself and co-workers against asbestos hazards • Review the laws associated with asbestos
- 18. References OSHA Asbestos Web Page. Retrieved from: • http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/asbestos/index.html Environmental Health and Safety online: • http://www.ehso.com/Asbestos/asbestreg.php Environmental Protection Agency. Libby Site Background. Retrieved from: • http://www.epa.gov/region8/superfund/libby/background.html U-W Madison. General Safety, Asbestos. Retrieved from: • http://www2.fpm.wisc.edu/safety/gsp/Asbestos.htm Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance. Retrieved from: • http://www.mesothelioma.com/
Editor's Notes
- Because asbestos has so many useful properties, it has been used in over 3,000 different products.
- Vermiculite is a naturally occurring mineral composed of shiny flakes, resembling mica. When heated to a high temperature, flakes of vermiculite expand as much as 8-30 times their original size. The expanded vermiculite is a light-weight, fire-resistant, and odorless material and has been used in numerous products, including insulation for attics and walls. Sizes of vermiculite products range from very fine particles to large (coarse) pieces nearly an inch long. A mine near Libby, Montana, was the source of over 70 percent of all vermiculite sold in the U.S. from 1919 to 1990. There was also a deposit of asbestos at that mine, so the vermiculite from Libby was contaminated with asbestos. Vermiculite from Libby was used in the majority of vermiculite insulation in the U.S. and was often sold under the brand name Zonolite. If you have vermiculite insulation in your home, you should assume this material may be contaminated with asbestos and be aware of steps you can take to protect yourself and your family from exposure to asbestos. This Web page provides important information on how to protect yourself and your family if you suspect that you might have vermiculite insulation from Libby, Montana. Why should I be concerned about asbestos-contaminated vermiculite insulation? A mine near Libby, Montana was the source of over 70 percent of all vermiculite sold in the U.S. from 1919 to 1990. There was also a deposit of asbestos at that mine, so the vermiculite from Libby was contaminated with asbestos. Vermiculite from Libby was used in the majority of vermiculite insulation in the U.S. and was often sold under the brand name Zonolite. If you have vermiculite insulation in your home, you should assume this material may be contaminated with asbestos and be aware of steps you can take to protect yourself and your family from exposure to asbestos. What is vermiculite? Vermiculite is a naturally-occurring mineral composed of shiny flakes, resembling mica. When heated to a high temperature, flakes of vermiculite expand as much as 8-30 times their original size. The expanded vermiculite is a light-weight, fire-resistant, and odorless material and has been used in numerous products, including insulation for attics and walls. Sizes of vermiculite products range from very fine particles to large (coarse) pieces nearly an inch long.
- Most cigarette filters were made of absorbent cotton, cellulose acetate fibers and crepe paper, but in 1951, the Lorillard Tobacco Company introduced a revolutionary product, said to contain a secret filtering material that could trap particles as small as one micron. The secret material—now known to be asbestos—had previously been used by the United States Army during World War II to provide filtration in gas masks and atomic energy plants. Lorillard's new product, named "Micronite," was widely used in the company's Kent cigarettes from 1951 until 1956. In fact, from 1952 to 1956, an estimated 13 billion Kent Micronite filtered cigarettes were sold in the U.S. The new cigarette filters were touted as "the greatest health protection in cigarette history" in advertisements claiming that Micronite was a "pure, dust-free, completely harmless material," perfect for smokers who were unusually sensitive to tars and nicotine. However, medical experts have since identified the "completely harmless" secret ingredient used in Kent Micronite cigarettes as crocidolite asbestos (also called "African blue" asbestos), a known carcinogen which some experts believe is the most hazardous of the six types of asbestos. Kent Micronite filters contained as much as 30 percent crocidolite asbestos, which when inhaled, can lodge in the lungs and lead to the development of lung inflammation, lung cancer, asbestosis and malignant mesothelioma. Researchers estimate that people who smoked one pack per day of Kent Micronite filtered cigarettes would have inhaled 131 million crocidolite asbestos fibers each year.
- This picture is borrowed from asbestos.com.
- Asbestos Facts When asbestos fibers are inhaled, most fibers are expelled, but some can become lodged in the lungs and remain there throughout life. Fibers can accumulate and cause scarring and inflammation. Enough scarring and inflammation can affect breathing, leading to disease. The term “naturally occurring asbestos” refers to the mineral as a natural component of soils or rocks as opposed to asbestos in commercial products, mining or processing operations. Naturally occurring asbestos can be released from rocks or soils by routine human activities, such as construction, or natural weathering processes. If naturally occurring asbestos is not disturbed and fibers are not released into the air, then it is not a health risk. People are more likely to experience asbestos-related disorders when they are exposed to high concentrations of asbestos, are exposed for longer periods of time, and/or are exposed more often. Inhaling longer, more durable asbestos fibers (such as tremolite and other amphiboles) contributes to the severity of asbestos-related disorders. Exposure to asbestos can increase the likelihood of lung cancer, mesothelioma, and non-malignant lung conditions such as asbestosis (restricted use of the lungs due to retained asbestos fibers) and changes in the pleura (lining of the chest cavity, outside the lung). Changes in pleura such as thickening, plaques, calcification, and fluid around the lungs (pleural effusion) may be early signs of asbestos exposure. These changes can affect breathing more than previously thought. Pleural effusion can be an early warning sign for mesothelioma (cancer of the lining of the lungs). Most cases of asbestosis or lung cancer in workers occurred 15 years or more after the person was first exposed to asbestos. Most cases of mesothelioma are diagnosed 30 years or more after the first exposure to asbestos. Asbestos-related disease has been diagnosed in asbestos workers, family members, and residents who live close to asbestos mines or processing plants. Health effects from asbestos exposure may continue to progress even after exposure is stopped. Smoking or cigarette smoke, together with exposure to asbestos, greatly increases the likelihood of lung cancer. See Cigarette Smoking, Asbestos Exposure, and your Health.
- In order to avoid being exposed to asbestos, you must be aware of the locations it is likely to be found. If you do not know whether something is asbestos or not, assume that it is until it is verified otherwise. Remember that you cannot tell if floor or ceiling tiles contain asbestos just by looking at them.
- It is imperative that all people, especially first responders and safety personnel, understand how to protect themselves in the event that asbestos fibers become airborne and may be inhaled. The best way to avoid asbestos inhalation is to wear a mask that covers your nose and mouth. In addition, other safety gear such as gloves or booties that cover your shoes should be worn, to prevent the transmission of asbestos fibers from one location to another. If possible, first responders may want to cover the nose and mouth of injured people at the site of a disaster or emergency to prevent them from inhaling asbestos fibers.
- Housekeepers and custodians should never sand or dry buff asbestos containing floor tiles, and only wet stripping methods may be used during stripping operations. Low abrasion pads should be used at speeds below 300 rpm. Broken and fallen ceiling tiles should be left in place until identified. Only after they have been identified as asbestos free may they be removed. Asbestos tiles will be removed by asbestos abatement workers. Broken and damaged asbestos floor tiles must also be removed by asbestos abatement workers. By knowing where asbestos is likely to be located and then taking measures not to disturb it, you will protect yourself and others from exposure to this hazardous substance.
- The Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance recommends keeping an ‘Asbestos Emergency Kit’ on hand if you are a first responder or happen to live in an area where natural disasters (like hurricanes or earthquakes) are prevalent and asbestos exposure is therefore likely. You should keep the following items in your kit: Gloves Protective eyewear Disposable clothing Booties Garbage bags (if you must remove and dispose of asbestos materials before a certified asbestos abatement technician is available, first wet all asbestos materials and then place them carefully in garbage bags. Seal the bags and mark them clearly so that people know the bags contain asbestos) Water bottles (to wet asbestos materials before moving them) Important telephone numbers of local asbestos abatement technicians and asbestos disposal locations (asbestos must be disposed of safely under the law in a designated asbestos landfill)