This document provides information about asbestos. It defines asbestos as a naturally occurring mineral fiber that was commonly used in manufacturing and construction due to its heat resistance and strength, but is now known to be hazardous. It causes diseases like cancer and asbestosis when fibers are inhaled and remain in the lungs and body. While still mined in some countries, its use is banned in many places due to health risks.

1. Date: February 25, 2011 Name: MERY JEANE V. JARDIN Course: BSBA FM Year/Section: II-A Subject: NatSci. Physical Science Day/Time Schedule: MWF/ 7:30-8:30 Link of your ppt/video presentation:

2. What is ASBESTOS? Asbestos is noun of Greek origin, which means inextinguishable or unquenchable. Asbestos contains fibers. Asbestos became increasingly popular among manufacturers and builders in the late 19th century because of its sound absorption, average tensile strength, and its resistance to heat, electrical and chemical damage. When asbestos is used for its resistance to fire or heat, the fibers are are often mixed with cement or woven into fabric or mats. Asbestos was used in some products for its heat resistance, and in the past was used on electric oven and hotplate wiring for its electrical insulation at elevated temperature, and in buildings for its flame-retardantand insulating properties, tensile strength, flexibility and resistance to chemical.

3. ASBESTOS

4. What is Asbestos? For most individuals, especially those born in the last 40 years, the mention of asbestos conjures up thoughts of a dangerous substance that's sickened many people and caused myriad deaths around the world. That's an accurate description. A common misconception on the part of many individuals, however, is that asbestos is a hazardous man-made substance, conjured up in factories around the world for commercial use. The truth is, however, that asbestos is a naturally-occurring mineral that can be found in hundreds of countries on just about every continent. As a matter of fact, asbestos is still mined in several of these countries, including Canada and Russia. Other countries have outlawed the mining of asbestos. Asbestos is a highly-fibrous mineral with long, thin, separable fibers. The thin fibers can be spun and woven together, and possess valuable heat-resistant properties that make asbestos suitable for insulation and other such products. Indeed, for decades, asbestos was the material of choice for many industries that were manufacturing products for which heat resistance, low electrical conductivity, flexibility, and high tensile strength were essential factors. Today, there are other alternatives. There are two kinds of asbestos. The serpentine variety is curly. Chrysotile asbestos, most commonly used for industrial purposes, is from the serpentine family. Other asbestos fibers, from the amphibole family, are very straight and needle-like. Amosite, crocidolite, tremolite, actinolite, and anthophyllite are amphibole asbestos varieties. Currently, chrysotile asbestos is the only type mined on a wide-scale though a handful of countries continue to mine other forms. However, worldwide outrage about the use of dangerous asbestos has forced many countries to reconsider their position on mining.

5. ASBESTOS: TO BAN OR NOT

6. ASBESTOS: To BAN Asbestos NEED TO BE BAN because it contains fibers that are almost indestructible and this is the basic reason indestructible and this is the basic reason behind asbestos becoming harmful and hence resulting to diseases like cancers of the of the lung and mesothelioma. The fibers are able to stay in the lungs and other parts of the body for a long time leading to inflam- mation scarring, malignant and other non malignant conditions that lead to diseases.

7. Many people working in different industries become regularly exposed to exposed to different degrees of asbestos. Majority of exposures are occupational and people working in aircraft manufacturing, brake materials, refineries, asbestos removal and abatement asbestos miners and millers and other asbestos related occupations have higher chances of risks. Even then, the degree of exposure to asbestos is what determines the fate of individual workers. Those who are exposed largely have greater chances of conducting asbestos related diseases and as the concentration of asbestos increases, so does the risks involved. Non occupational risks can also become a health risk. Public buildings are known as the major source of asbestos exposure. Materials and equipment that contain asbestos whether banned or not can be easily found in public building and hence increasing the risk of exposure to asbestos. During processes like repairs, renovation or demolition of such buildings asbestos fibers may be released into the air resulting to more exposure to people in that environment.

8. The inhalation of asbestos fibers can cause serious illnesses, including malignant lung cancer, mesothelioma (a formerly rare cancer strongly associated with exposure to amphibole asbestos), and asbestosis (a type of pneumoconiosis). Long exposure to high concentrations of asbestos fibers is more likely to cause health problems, as asbestos exists in the ambient air at low levels, which itself does not cause health problems. The European Union has banned all use of asbestos and extraction, manufacture and processing of asbestos products.

9. ASBESTOS can cause cancer. Asbestos Cancer Mesothelioma is sometimes referred to asbestos cancer. It is referred to this because the only known cause of mesothelioma is exposure to asbestos. Asbestos exposure causes mesothelioma in different ways depending on the variety of the malignancy. Pleural Mesothelioma and Asbestos Pleural mesothelioma, the most common variety, is caused by inhaled asbestos fibers which lodge themselves in the pleural lining of the lungs. Asbestos fibers, which are microscopic but durable, then irritate the inner tissue, causing the growth of harmful scar tissue and eventually mesothelioma.

10. Peritoneal Mesothelioma and Asbestos Peritoneal mesothelioma is less common and doctors have not exacted relationship between the asbestos exposure and the malignancy. However, nearly all peritoneal mesothelioma patients have a history of asbestos exposure. Peritoneal mesothelioma occurs in the lining of the abdominal cavity, near the digestive tract. Doctors surmise that ingested asbestos fibers lodge in the outer tissue of the organs and cause a similar inflammation as in the pleura. Pericardial Mesothelioma and Asbestos Pericardial mesothelioma occurs in the lining of the heart and is extremely rare. Like peritoneal mesothelioma, very little is known about the relationship between the malignancy and asbestos exposure but nearly all patients have asbestos exposure history. Physicians surmise that because the cancer occurs in the heart’s lining, the asbestos fibers may impact the heart through the bloodstream.

11. Lung Cancer and Asbestos Asbestos has also been linked to cancers of the lung, as opposed to the pleural lining of the lungs. These are likely the result of malfunction caused due the exposure and inhalation of asbestos fibers, which can also cause chronic respiratory conditions such as asbestosis.

12. IMAGES OF ASBESTOS