The Possible new Mining of Asbestos

You thought this was an issue that had been put to bed.  So did I.  AOL News brought this item to my attention.

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ASBESTOS, Quebec — A plan to increase production from Canada’s last asbestos mine near this town named for the deadly mineral has enraged physicians and public health workers around the globe.

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The following information was taken from a law firm that helps those suffering from Mesothelioma.  That is a form of cancer believed to be caused by exposure to asbestos particles.

Throughout time, asbestos has been used in a variety of contexts. The fiber was originally used by the Greeks who loved it as a fire-proof table cloth that could be tossed in the fire for cleaning whenever it got dirty. Since then, the use of asbestos has expanded into a variety of areas. At the peak of its use and through the late 1980s, asbestos was used in more than 3,000 products in homes.

A large number of products using asbestos are used in construction and industrial products. Asbestos is used in various construction components because it is both fireproof and provides insulation. It is excellent for insulating against sound from other room as well as insulating against heat.

Some products in buildings and industrial applications that contain asbestos include:

– Floor tiles and sheet flooring
– Decorative plaster or artex
– Acoustic plaster
– Textured paints
– Spray coatings
– Roofs, gutters, downpipes
– Wall panels
– Door linings
– Floors and walls
– Loft insulation- Lift shaft linings
– Soffits/fascia boards
– Brake linings
– Fire safes/filing cabinets
– Packing materials
– Ventilation system linings/laggings
– School blackboards

The prevalence of asbestos in such a wide variety of products that are used in such a wide variety of areas means that almost anyone can be at risk of exposure. Some of the most commonly affected individuals include contractors, car mechanics, shipworkers, firefighters, clean-up crews, and numerous other groups.

Due to the risk of asbestos, individuals should be careful to take any and all precautions possible for avoiding the inhalation of the deadly fiber. While the fiber has numerous uses in the construction and industrial world, it is deadly for human beings. So far, asbestos is the only known cause of Mesothelioma, a deadly cancer, and asbestosis, a lung disease.

Asbestos fibers do not immediately trigger disease and cancer. It usually takes more than one exposure to the fiber to trigger or result in asbestosis or mesothelioma.