What Are the Specific Dangers of Asbestos?
Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that is made up of tiny, threadlike fibers. The problem with asbestos isn’t with its installation; the danger comes when materials containing asbestos begin to erode with age or are damaged during repair or demolition. Asbestos fibers break into microscopic particles when damaged and when inhaled, can lodge in the lining of the lungs where they elude the body’s natural defenses. The more asbestos dust produced, the greater the danger. That is why sawing, drilling, sanding, or smashing apart materials containing asbestos creates that much greater a health risk. The most common disease associated with asbestos exposure is asbestosis, where the fibers scar the lung’s tissue and cause decreased lung capacity. Lung cancer is the second most common asbestos-related disease. The least common but most deadly illness linked with asbestos exposure is mesothelioma, an incurable cancer that attacks the lung, heart or abdominal cavity lining. Doctors now kn
