How and when does asbestos affect one’s health?
Asbestos in tact does not pose an immediate danger to ones health. It is when ACM becomes damaged or unwhole that the material becomes dangerous and can adversely affect one’s health. Asbestos is a carcinogen that can be fatal if inhaled. When material containing it becomes damaged, it is possible for asbestos fibers, too small to be seen with the naked eye, to be released into the air. Although any sized particles can create health hazards, the small fibers that are 3 x 5 microns in size are of greatest concern because they are small enough to pass through one’s natural respiratory filtering system. If these fibers become lodged in the lungs, they can cause several types of cancer, including Asbestosis and Mesothelioma. There are no immediate indications of disease in the event of asbestos exposure, and the latency period for the cancers to develop is 10-20 years and 20-40 years, respectively.
