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Are asbestos fibers visible to the eye ?
By Jeff Lakie
If you are in the construction business or employed by an industry that
uses products containing asbestos, you may wonder ˇ°Are asbestos
fibers visible to the eyeˇ±? Generally asbestos fibers are too small to be
seen by the naked eye. Asbestos becomes dangerous when it has
broken down into small fibers and is inhaled. It is nearly impossible to
detect the presence of asbestos without taking the material to a lab for
testing. A lab technician will put the material under a microscope to
search for asbestos fibers. Asbestos does not cause an immediate
reaction. It will not cause you to cough, sneeze, or your eyes to water.
You cannot see, smell, or taste asbestos. If you skin becomes
contaminated with asbestos it will not burn or itch.
Asbestos related diseases have a very long latency period. This is the
time frame from when you are first exposed to asbestos until you
become ill. Most persons do not become ill for at least ten years after
exposure and some not until over forty years later. Asbestosis, lung
cancer, and mesothelioma are all asbestos related diseases.
Asbestosis occurs when asbestos fibers enter the lungs. The body will
naturally produce an acid to combat the fibers. However, this acid can
cause scarring in the tissue of the lungs and in advanced stages
breathing becomes more difficult and painful. Asbestosis was first
documented in shipyard workers. Asbestos can also cause lung
cancer. If a person smokes and is exposed to asbestos, they have a
much greater chance of developing lung cancer. Mesothelioma is a
type of cancer that has only been linked to asbestos exposure. It is a
cancer of the cells that line the peritoneum (area surrounding the
abdominal organs) and the pleura (area outside of the lungs and inside
of the ribs).
There is a lot of debate and controversy surrounding which types of
asbestos is harmful. Some types of asbestos are thought to be more
dangerous than others but all types of asbestos exposure should be
avoided. Actinolite, amosite, anthophyllite, crocidolite, chrysotile
(white asbestos), and tremolite are all types of asbestos. Chrysotile is
the type of asbestos most commonly used in manufacturing products.
Asbestos fibers are not visible to the eye. If you feel you may have
been exposed to asbestos, the most common method for testing is a
chest x-ray. The x-ray will not show the asbestos fibers but it can spot
early signs of lung disease. There is no known cure for asbestos
related diseases.
About the Author
Jeff Lakie is the founder of Asbestos Resources a website providing information on asbestos
Article Source: http://www.simplysearch4it.com/article/9538.html
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