What Is Asbestos?

Asbestos is the term used to describe a group of minerals that have crystallised to form long thin fibres and fibrous bundles. Most common are white asbestos (known as Chrysotile), blue asbestos (Crocidolite) and brown asbestos (Amosite). White asbestos has been the most frequently mined throughout the world. Blue and brown asbestos fibres have high tensile strength as well as chemical, electrical and thermal resistance. It is these properties which made asbestos so popular as a building and insulation material. Asbestos is known to have been used extensively throughout the world.

Whilst it is accepted that asbestos is a hazardous material it only poses a risk to health if the asbestos fibres become airborne and are then respired (inhaled). Therefore, most asbestos materials pose little inherent risk. The risk comes through disturbance and through the release of the fibres into the atmosphere. Inhalation of asbestos fibres can lead to serious diseases such as lung cancer, mesothelioma, asbestosis etc. A large number of cases of these diseases occurring now are a result of exposure in industries which used asbestos extensively in the past. These include ship building, train and car manufacturing.

However asbestos was installed in many buildings which means that a wide range of people outside those typically associated with asbestos still have the potential to be exposed. This is particularly true in the case of building and maintenance workers. For this reason the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006 has been introduced,highlighting a new duty on those responsible for non-domestic premises to manage the asbestos contained in them.

Asbestos was used so extensively mainly because asbestos has the ability to resist high temperatures. Asbestos is ideal for any process involving the conservation or preservation of thermal energy. The asbestos fibres give protection against fire, corrosion, cold, acids and alkalis, electricity, noise, energy loss, vibration, salt water.

Historically the dangers of asbestos use were not widely understood or appreciated. However in the early days of unemployment benefit in the first part of the 20th century, you could refuse to work in asbestos industries and still retain your benefit which would otherwise have been terminated. This then shows that the dangers were known to some degree almost 100 years ago.

Asbestos related diseases also generally take many years or even decades (up to 60 years in some cases) to develop after exposure. As such the true scale of the health risks only became known after asbestos had already been widely used and many people had already been exposed.

This exposure through disturbance or manufacture released the asbestos fibres which were then inhaled deep into the lungs. The fibres are not easily broken down within the lungs and will most likely remain there. Asbestos material that crumbles easily if handled, or that which has been sawed, scraped, or sanded into a powder, is more likely to create a health hazard. Nowadays persons most likely to be exposed to asbestos are those working in building and maintenance trades, and to a lesser extent those involved in asbestos removal although these persons do understand the risks involved with such a hazardous material and will utilize personal protective equipment when handling the asbestos. The asbestos removal industry is also highly regulated by Government legislation and the Health and Safety Executive, which further protects it's workers.

As asbestos fibres accumulate in the lungs, several types of diseases may occur. These include mesothelioma, asbestosis, lung cancer and diffuse pleural thickening.

Mesothelioma is a cancer of the pleural (lungs) and peritoneal (lower digestive tract) lining and it is considered to be exclusively related to asbestos exposure. Diagnosis is almost always too late to prevent death. Mesothelioma has a latency period (time between exposure and onset of disease) of between15 and 60 years. The linings are similar to a sheet of paper. The cancer spreads through this lining quickly due to it's low mass and as no transplant is available for this mortality is very high.

Asbestosis a chronic fibrosis (scarring) of the lung tissue. This scarring impairs the elasticity of the lung and hampers its ability to exchange gaseous material leading to inadequate oxygen intake to the bloodstream. Asbestosis restricts breathing leading to decreased lung volume and increased resistance in the airways. It is a slowly progressive disease with a latency period of 15 to 30 years. It can be described uncomfortably in layman's terms as a slow death by drowning.

Lung Cancer is a malignant tumour of the bronchi covering. The tumour grows through surrounding tissue, invading and often obstructing air passages. Again, the disease has a long latency period of typically at least 20 years.

Diffuse pleural thickening is another disease associated with asbestos exposure. It is a non-malignant disease in which the pleura (lung lining) become scarred and these small areas of scarring are called pleural plaques. It normally takes at least 10 years after the first exposure to develop asbestos related pleural disease. Diffuse pleural thickening is a chronic condition with no cure.

There were 1862 deaths from mesothelioma in 2002 and it is estimated that there are around as many asbestos related lung cancer deaths each year as mesotheliomas. As such it can be seen that estimates reflect a death from asbestos related lung cancer or mesothelioma every 2 hours in 2002.

In 2003 there were 655 asbestos derived disablement benefit cases. There were 400 new cases of disablement benefit for diffuse pleural thickening in 2003.

The peak of asbestos exposure in Great Britain is thought to have been between 1965 and 1970. The annual number of mesothelioma deaths is predicted to continue to rise until it reaches an estimated peak of around 1950 to 2450 deaths some time between 2011 and 2015.

Vehicle Body Builders, Plumbers and Gas Fitters, Carpenters, Electricians, Sheet Metal Workers, Electrical Plant Operators, Production Fitters, Construction Workers, and Electrical Engineers are considered to have been most at risk from developing asbestos related diseases through past exposure. However due to the long periods of time before asbestos related illnesses become apparent these can only be considered to recognize the risk profile from pre 1980.

It should be noted though that over 25% of those dying from mesothelioma had worked in the building or maintenance industry. The building and building maintenance industry is an area of exposure where exposure is still considered a major hazard.

Thankfully the use, supply and importation of asbestos and asbestos products has now been banned for all but a few exceptions. Also working with asbestos generally requires a licence and the use of strict control measures, including personal protective equipment such as respirators. It was the understanding of the wide range of people who now have the potential to be exposed to asbestos which led to the latest revision of the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006 placing as it does a duty on those responsible for commercial premises to manage the asbestos contained in them.