What Are the Different Types of Asbestos Hazards?
Asbestos hazards include mesothelioma, lung cancer, asbestosis, and other cancers. Exposure typically occurs in the workplace or the home, as asbestos has been used as insulation for boilers, hot water pipes, and steam pipes. Some ceiling tiles, floor tiles, paints, plastics, and adhesives also contain asbestos. The United States Department of Health and Human Services, the EPA, and the International Agency for Research on cancer have classified asbestos as a substance that causes cancer in humans. This means that any materials that contain this mineral are potential asbestos hazards. In the US, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) banned all new uses of asbestos in 1989. Mesothelioma is the most common of the different types of asbestos hazards. It is a fatal cancer that develops in the lining of the lung, the abdomen, or the heart. Some people who are exposed to asbestos develop mesothelioma in more than one location. Asbestos exposure is the main cause of mesothelioma in 70 to
