When is asbestos a hazard?

Asbestos is not always an immediate hazard. In fact, if asbestos can be maintained in good
condition, it is recommended that it be left alone and periodic surveillance performed to monitor
its condition. It is only when asbestos containing materials (ACM) are disturbed or the materials
become damaged that it becomes a hazard. When the materials become damaged, the fibers
separate and may then become airborne. In the asbestos industry, the term ‘friable’ is used to
describe asbestos that can be reduced to dust by hand pressure. ‘Non-friable’ means asbestos that
is too hard to be reduce to dust by hand. Non-friable materials, such as transite siding and floor
tiles are not regulated provided it does not become friable. Machine grinding, sanding and
dry-buffing are ways of causing non-friable materials to become friable.

Why is asbestos a hazard?

Asbestos is made up of microscopic bundles of fibers that may become airborne when distributed.
These fibers get into the air and may become inhaled into the lungs, where they may cause
significant health problems. Researchers still have not determined a "safe level" of exposure but
we know the greater and the longer the exposure, the greater the risk of contracting an asbestos
related disease. Some of these health problems include:

• a) Asbestosis - a lung disease first found in naval shipyard workers. As asbestos
  fibers are inhaled, they may become trapped in the lung tissue. The body tries to
  dissolve the fibers by producing an acid. This acid, due to the chemical resistance
  of the fiber, does little to damage the fiber, but may scar the surrounding tissue.
  Eventually, this scarring may become so severe that the lungs cannot function. The
  latency period ( meaning the time it takes for the disease to become developed) is
  often 25-40 years.
• b) Mesothelioma - a cancer of the pleura ( the outer lining of the lung and chest
  cavity) and/ or the peritoneum ( the lining of the abdominal wall). This form of
  cancer is peculiar because the only known cause is from asbestos exposure. The
  latency period for mesothelioma is often 15-30 years.
• c) Lung Cancer - caused by asbestos. The effects of lung cancer are often greatly
  increased by cigarette smoking ( by about 50%). Cancer of the gastrointestinal
  tract can also be caused by asbestos. The latency period for cancer is often 15-30
  years.

Despite the common misconception, asbestos does not cause head-aches, sore muscles or other
immediate symptoms. As mentioned above, the effects often go unnoticed for 15-40 years.