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Health and Medicine - Why Is Exposure To Asbestos A Health Hazard?
Why is exposure to asbestos a health hazard?
Asbestos is a fibrous mineral that is resistant to heat, flames, and chemical actions. Exposure to asbestos has long been known to cause asbestosis. This is a chronic, restrictive lung disease caused by the inhalation of tiny mineral asbestos fibers. Asbestos has also been linked to cancers of the larynx, pharynx, oral cavity, pancreas, kidneys, ovaries, and gastrointestinal tract. It takes cancer 15 to 30 years to develop from asbestos exposure. In addition, the American Lung Association reports that prolonged exposure to asbestos doubles the likelihood that a smoker will develop lung cancer.
Asbestos fibers were used in building materials between 1900 and the early 1970s. These materials were used as insulation for walls and pipes, as fireproofing for walls and fireplaces, and in soundproofing and acoustic ceiling tiles. Asbestos was also used as a strengthener...
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