Asbestos is an incredibly dangerous substance that was commonly used in construction projects in the United Kingdom until its ban in the 1990s. It has the potential to cause various life-threatening diseases and has been responsible for a substantial number of deaths over the years. Read on to find out why is asbestos dangerous.
Asbestos: an extremely hazardous construction material
Asbestos becomes very dangerous when its fibres become airborne, which means that it needs to be removed by a licenced contractor. There is still a worrying lack of awareness about asbestos and the risks that it poses, which means that some people still try to get rid of it themselves. This hazardous material can also cause considerable environmental problems if disposed of incorrectly. Keep reading to discover the dangers of asbestos.
Health risks
Asbestos carries a range of health risks. These include lung cancer, mesothelioma and lung cancer. As these diseases can have lengthy latency periods, many people don’t spot any symptoms until years after asbestos exposure. Most exposure happens when people inhale asbestos fibres. Asbestos is not normally dangerous until its fibre disturbance occurs. Once this happens, there’s a big chance of inhalation. These fibres are microscopic and therefore not usually visible. However, they can become airborne during renovation and demolition work.
Friable nature
Asbestos often falls into two types, which are friable and non-friable. Friable asbestos includes asbestos in materials which can easily crumble or turn into a powder. This can release the fibres into the air. Many older asbestos-containing materials include friable asbestos. These include damaged asbestos boards and loose insulation.
Lack of awareness
Another reason why asbestos can be dangerous is the lack of awareness. The health risks associated with asbestos exposure were only made public in the 1980s. This meant that many manufacturing, shipbuilding and construction workers were frequently exposed to asbestos without knowing about its dangers. Many workers developed asbestos-related diseases later in life. Even today, there’s a big chance many people still don’t know just how dangerous asbestos can be, or that they could be dealing with a material that contains it.
Environmental risks
Asbestos doesn’t just pose a risk to humans. It can also be very harmful to the environment. If materials that include it don’t go through proper disposal processes, soil and water sources face contamination. This endangers ecosystems and may affect future generations.
Why was asbestos used in construction projects?
Asbestos was a popular choice for construction due to its insulation properties and resistance to fire. It was also used to enhance the energy efficiency of buildings and formed a very tough material when it was mixed with cement. However, the emergence of information about its dangers eventually led to a UK-wide ban.
Has there been a rise in asbestos-related diseases over recent years?
The long latency period of diseases related to asbestos means new cases are still emerging. It’s likely that there will be a peak in the number of asbestos deaths before 2025. Many homes, schools, hospitals and other buildings constructed before 1999 still include asbestos-related materials. This means that asbestos is still far from being a concern of the past. Asbestos is still present in pipes, insulation, roofing and flooring in buildings across the UK. It was recently found in 16 school buildings in Guernsey. The material was used during building work on the schools in the 1970s.
Which regulations govern the management of asbestos-related materials?
The Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 includes guidelines on how to manage and handle materials that include asbestos to protect workers and the public. The regulations require that materials containing asbestos undergo proper identification, assessment and safe removal by trained, licenced professionals with full training.
source