What is asbestos
- A heat-resistant fibrous silicate mineral that can be woven into fabrics and is used in fire-resistant and insulating materials such as break linings.
Which part of the asbestos is indestructible: the mineral or the products?
only the minerals
Trends in world production of asbestos
- Rose steadily until 1980s and then began to fall.
- Now only chrystolite asbestos is produced
Which country has the greatest asbestos production and consumption?
Russia
- Total across countries is 2,130,000
Which country has the greatest asbestos imports?
Japan
Examples of Asbestos products
- Insulation pads
- Spray-on insulation in buildings
•To prevent structural damage to a building
• To fight wind
Cause of asbestos in urban cities
uncovered transportation of materials
Means of human asbestos exposure
inhaled dust
Friable vs. non-friable asbestos
- Friable = easily crumbled or pulverized to powder
•More dangerous cuz it gets airborne easily - Non-friable = cant be easily crumbled
• A little safer since there is less chance lots of it gets into the air
Major Asbestos-Related DIseases
- Asbestosis
- Lung cancer
- Mesothelioma
- Tumors
Why do private schools kids have more asbestos exposure?
they have more money to get maintenance
Asbestos Exposure Pyramid
- Worst off: millers and miners
- Asbestos users
- Asbestos producers
- Asbestos processors
•Factory products - Household contact/ consumer product contact
Asbestos equation
exposure duration x intensity = disease risk
Asbestos in more harmful in the form of wet/dry materials. (Pick one)
dry
Which type of workers have the most mortality in US?
Coal workers in coal mines
Mesothelioma
- Aggressive cancer affecting the membrane lining of lungs and abdomen
- Long latency period (25+ years after exposure)
- 3 types
• Pleural - lungs protective lining in chest
• Pertoneal - abdominal cavity
• Pericardial - cardiac cavity
Asbestosis
- A chronic lung disease characterized by a scarring of lung tissues, which leads to long term breathing complications.
- The disease does not have a cure
- Prognosis: decent
- Can not a form of lung cancer or mesothelioma
- Can live for a long time with it
How can ore contribute to the asbestos problem?
- Can be contaminated with tremolite
- Caused by vermiculite processing
