Asbestos Awareness: Things You Should Know to Stay Safe
By Training Express
Ever heard of asbestosis or mesothelioma? Asbestos is a serious threat to many people who are involved in the maintenance and repairing jobs of old buildings. Although asbestos exposure does not have an immediate impact on your health, asbestos fibres can lead to fatal medical complications. In this article, you can start your journey of asbestos awareness. Also, you will learn about the safety measures required to save yourself from asbestos contamination.
Asbestos: What is it? Asbestos refers to six naturally occurring silicate minerals. These minerals are composed of soft and flexible fibres that are highly resistant to corrosion, heat and electricity. Each fibre of asbestos is made of many microscopic fibrils. These fibrils can get released into the atmosphere because of erosion and other processes.
The quality of asbestos makes it an effective insulator. Besides, we can use asbestos in cloth, paper, cement, plastic and other materials to make them more robust.
Nevertheless, asbestos fibres can have long-term effects on the human body. If someone inhales or ingests asbestos dust, some of the fibres can remain trapped in the body for a long time. Over time, the trapped fibres can cause inflammation, scarring and genetic damage. Additionally, inhalation of asbestos fibres can result in serious lung conditions and cancer.
Explore our course on asbestos awareness
The types of asbestos
‘Asbestos’ is a technical term that refers to multiple types of minerals. There are six identified types of asbestos. Moreover, all these types belong to the amphibole and serpentine mineral families.
Chrysotile
Chrysotile (white asbestos) is the most common form of asbestos. You can find them in the roofs, ceilings, walls and floors of domestic and nondomestic buildings. In the past, people used chrysotile in the manufacturing of gaskets and boiler seals, automobile brake linings, and insulation for pipes, ducts and appliances.
Amosite
Amosite (brown asbestos) was frequently used in cement sheets and pipe insulation. You can also find them in insulating boards, ceiling tiles and thermal insulation products.
Crocidolite
Crocidolite (blue asbestos) was convenient for insulated steam engines. The other usage of blue asbestos included spray-on coatings, pipe insulation, plastics and cement products.
Actinolite
Actinolite has sharp, needle-like fibres. People can easily inhale or ingest these fibres. This type of asbestos is generally dark in colour. Actinolite is a formation of other minerals including calcium, magnesium, iron, silicon. This particular asbestos was utilized in cement, insulation materials, sealants, paints and drywalls.
Anthophyllite
Anthophyllite had limited use for construction materials and insulation products. The colour of these types of asbestos can be grey, dull green or white.
Tremolite
Tremolite is popular for its heat resistant properties. Tremolite, like other asbestos in the amphibole family, has sharp fibres that you can ingest or inhale easily. The colour of tremolite varies from milky white to dark green. You can find this type of asbestos in other minerals such as talc and vermiculite. People used tremolite in a variety of products: paints, sealants, insulation, roofing and plumbing materials.
Asbestos exposure
People get exposed to asbestos as they breathe tiny asbestos fibres within the air. How does the asbestos get into the air? It can come from the natural deposits of asbestos in the earth. Besides, some commercial products contain mineral asbestos.
How does asbestos get into air?
Asbestos fibres usually get into the air because of the subsequent reasons:
●
Erosion of natural asbestos on the earth’s surface or weathering of old products that contain asbestos Use of natural deposits of asbestos for crushing rocks Handling, cutting, or crushing old asbestos-containing products during building projects Disturbing soil which is contaminated by old asbestos-containing products during recreational or other outdoor activities Production and distribution of consumer products contaminated with asbestos Activities like cleaning that stir up dust containing asbestos from natural deposits or products Gardening in asbestos-contaminated soil
● ● ● ● ● ●
Asbestos pollution: Dependencies The amount of asbestos into the air depends on many aspects, such as:
● ● ● ● ●
The location The type of soil or material in which the asbestos exist The lifetime and characteristics of the host material The weather conditions The intensity of activity around the sources of asbestos
The asbestos fibres that go into the air act the same regardless of the source of origin. People may swallow asbestos fibres or get the fibre on their skin. However, the effect of these types of contact is minimal without a large quantity of exposure. The primary health issues caused by asbestos fibres derive from breathing exposures.
Who is at risk from asbestos?
Workers who carry out maintenance and repair jobs in older buildings are at particular risk. Why is it so? It can happen considering they breathe in more asbestos fibres. The people who are at higher risks include:
● ● ●
construction and demolition contractors, roofers, electricians, painters and decorators, joiners, plumbers, gas fitters, plasterers, shopfitters, heating and ventilation engineers, and surveyors; workers dealing with electronics, e.g. phone and IT engineers, and alarm installers; general maintenance engineers
If the asbestos in a site can be readily disturbed, more people occupying the premises will be at risk.
Where do we find asbestos in buildings?
Asbestos was in extensive use previously for building purposes. A list of the asbestos products and the usage of the products are given below:
Asbestos product
What is it used for?
Sprayed asbestos (limpet)
Fire protection in ducts and to structural steelwork, fire breaks in ceiling voids etc.
Lagging
Thermal insulation of pipes and boilers
Asbestos insulating boards (AIB)
Fire protection, thermal insulation, wall partitions, ducts, soffits, ceiling and wall panels
Asbestos cement products, flat or corrugated sheets
Roofing and wall cladding, gutters, rainwater pipes, water tanks
Certain textured coatings
Decorative plasters, paints
Bitumen or vinyl materials
Roofing felt, floor and ceiling tiles
Source: Health and Safety Executive
Some Asbestos Containing Materials (ACM) are more open to damages than others. In general, the materials with a higher proportion of asbestos will give off fibres more easily.
The health risks from asbestos exposure Most of the asbestos-related problems surface after years of repeated and long-term exposure. Yet, it is important to remember that no level of asbestos exposure is safe for the human body.
Asbestos fibres accumulate in human tissues through repeated exposure. Eventually, the fibres cause inflammation and DNA damage. Gradually, cellular changes occur in the human body and these changes
can lead to cancer and other malicious diseases.
Effe ct on different organs of body affected by asbestos fibres
Potential diseases from asbestos exposure
Cancer-oriented diseases
Non-cancerous diseases
Mesothelioma: A rare and incurable Asbestosis: Inflammation and scarring cancer that develops in the linings of the of lung tissues. lungs or abdomen.
Pleural plaques: Fibrous thickening of Lung cancer: Approximately 4% of allthe lining around the lungs. lung cancers are attributed to asbestos exposure. Pleural effusion: Breathing difficulty due to fluid build-up around the lungs. Ovarian cancer: In 2012, the International Agency for Research on Cancer gave evidence that asbestos can cause ovarian cancer. Diffuse pleural thickening: Extensive scarring that stiffens the pleural lining of the lungs, causing chest pain and breathing problems. Laryngeal cancer: In 2006, the National Institutes of Health confirmed that laryngeal cancer can be caused by asbestos exposure. Pleurisy: Acute inflammation of the pleural lining.
Atelectasis: The lungs under-inflate because of inflammation and scarring of the pleural lining.
After the initial exposure, it may take 10 – 70 years to develop asbestos-related diseases. While asbestosis can take as few as 10 years, the relevant cancers will take 20 – 50 years to progress.
Asbestos-related regulations in the United Kingdom The British government tries to exercise rigorous controls on asbestos handling through the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). According to a report of the HSE, at least 4.000 people die each year in the UK from mesothelioma and asbestos-related lung cancer.
The government banned blue and brown asbestos materials entirely in 1985. The import, trading and reuse of white asbestos is under prohibition from 1999.
According to the 2012 Control of Asbestos Regulations, the owners of non-domestic buildings must be aware of the presence and state of asbestos in their properties. Furthermore, the owners are responsible for managing asbestos deterioration in their premises. Employers need to provide asbestos training to their workers annually in relevant industries.
Controlling asbestos exposure: How to stay safe around asbestos People who are susceptible to asbestos contamination need to get proper training and wear personal protective equipment for safety. If you are living in an old home in which asbestos exists in the building materials, you should:
●
● ●
Avoid disturbing all the materials that might release asbestos particles including: 1. Pipe and furnace insulation, siding, flooring, and popcorn ceilings installed between 1950 – 1970 2. Vermiculite attic insulation Contact the local environmental agency or certified contractors for maintenance and replacement works Seek professional help for any type of repair works and abide by the safety regulations from HSE
On the other hand, people who live near natural asbestos deposits or in areas contaminated with old asbestos-containing materials need to:
●
Keep asbestos levels low at home —
●
1. Using wet methods of cleaning and high-efficiency particulate air vacuums 2. Keeping windows closed in windy weather to block asbestos fibres 3. Using doormats and removing shoes outside the entrance Minimise dust inhalation out of home — 1. Using water to dampen the soil before gardening or playing 2. Spraying off terraces with water rather than sweeping the areas 3. Remaining on pavements or grounds covered with grass or other artificial layers on the soil that limit dust
The HSE does not allow any minimum threshold for asbestos exposure. Thus, it is mandatory to minimise asbestos pollution at any cost. Due to practical reasons, we cannot eliminate asbestos altogether in near future. Thus, everyone needs to be aware of asbestos exposure, especially those who work around asbestos.
Have a risk of asbestos exposure? Train with us.