What is Asbestos

Asbestos is a mineral fibre obtained from a rock mined in various countries throughout the world and is found commonly in products used in but not limited to the building industry.

What are the health concerns with Asbestos?

It is only when Asbestos containing materials are disturbed or become damaged that asbestos becomes a hazard.  When this occurs the materials fibres separate and may then become airborne.  ‘Friable’ is a term used to describe Asbestos that can be reduced to dust by hand pressure “Non friable” means Asbestos that is to hard to be reduced to dust by hand.
Machine grinding buffing or sanding are all ways of causing non friable materials to become friable and are a major source of contamination still today Water blasting which rips asbestos fibre away from for example sheet asbestos become friable once it dries.  All these examples should be avoided at all cost

Exposure to airborne friable Asbestos can result in health risks when fibres are inhaled. Constant exposure can increase the amount of fibre that remains trapped on the lining of the lungs. These fibres can cause serious lung diseases such as lung cancer, or mesothelloma.

Asbestosis in it various forms is a serious and progressive long-term disease which can take up to 30 years to materialise.

Symptoms include shortness of breath and dry crackling sound in the lungs when inhaling.

There is no effective treatment for Asbestosis.

Asbestos types

• White Asbestos (Chrysotile) The most common form of asbestos mined throughout the world.
• Brown Asbestos (Amosite) mainly mined in South Africa.
• Blue Asbestos (Crocidolite) Mined mainly in South Africa and Australia.