Asbestos is a combination of several minerals held together by strands of fibers.
These strands are fireproof. The strands also do not conduct electricity or heat
Because of these natural characteristics,
asbestos was used widely in all types of construction and products up until
the mid-1970s. There are other types of products that were manufactured with
asbestos like insulation materials and automobile clutches and brakes which were
designed to contained head and sound.
1-Chrysotile,
2-Amosite
3- Crocidolite
are the three most common forms of asbestos.
Chrysotile asbestos is the main cause of malignant pleural mesothelioma.
Chrysotile or white asbestos accounts for approximately 95 percent of the asbestos
used in the production of asbestos products in the
United States of America and is the only member of the serpentine group of chemicals.
Although these fine fibers of asbestos made it a great
conductor of fire, heat and electrical resistant products,
these fibers can easily become airborne and enter into the body
from breathing thus eventually causing Mesothelioma.
Once these fibers enter the body through the
respiratory system these fibers lodge within the mesothelial
cells around the lungs causing direct damage to the lungs by
damaging the pleura area of the lungs.
The Hidden Danger
Companies have known about the dangerous effects of asbestos
for many decades, but information on the health
risks were kept hidden from the public.
In hiding the truth behind asbestos,
many companies continued to
expose workers and civilians to the risk
of contracting Mesothelioma.
