Asbestos: The Miracle Mineral and Its effects on Us
Sunday, December 6th, 2009 at 10:09 am
The world as we know it would be very different if asbestos was never discovered. It has revolutionized so many industries and products - including brakes and clutches in cars, firemen uniforms, vinyl flooring, wall insulation, and many other materials used in constructing homes and commercial buildings. Anything that needs insulation from heat, electricity, or chemical corrosion is benefited by the discovery of asbestos - but at what cost?
Origins and History of Asbestos
Asbestos is a Greek term which means “lime”. It is a very fibrous mineral that is mined in rocks - lime to be exact, as you might imagine. Some of the most common types of asbestos are Chrysotile (white asbestos), Amosite (brown asbestos), and Crocidolite (blue asbestos).
The first accounts of asbestos date back to the first century AD, including Marco Polo’s journals of miraculous clothes in China which were cleaned by being exposed to fire. Even then there were records that asbestos caused breathing problems for the slaves who wove these garments.
In the early 1970’s a court document proved that the asbestos industry officials have known asbestos can cause harmful effects to humans since early 1930’s but they concealed it from the public.
Cause and Effect of Asbestos Diseases
Asbestos fibers are so small that inhaling it repetitively over a long period of time can cause breathing problems and even cancer. These fibers can be so small that our body can’t release it naturally after we have inhaled or swallowed it, causing any number of asbestos diseases.
Some of the asbestos diseases which can be acquired from exposure or poisoning are asbestosis, Mesothelioma, Asbestos Warts, pleural Plaques, and diffuse pleural thickening. Asbestos poisoning can is very hard to detect as it’s symptoms and damage can take up to 20 to 40 years before it reeks havoc on our bodies.
Some countries have completely banned the use of materials containing asbestos. The U.S., on the other hand, has only regulated it depending on the volume of fibers present in the material. Although asbestos has been proven to be very harmful to humans and the government imposes a serious penalty to companies for infractions, they still continue to produce and use it - and sometimes abuse it. As long as there is a demand for asbestos there will always be a producer.
Anyone who has been diagnosed with an asbestos related disease is eligible for compensation by companies, manufacturer’s contractors or distributors. However, getting that compensation is often a difficult and complicated process. Without a lawyer, you may not get the compensation you deserve.