It May Take Ten Years Or More To Develop Asbestosis Cancer Symptoms
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) classified asbestos as a hazardous air pollutant in 1971, after studies measuring the increase of fibers in the air was linked to their widespread use in manufacturing. Decades of regulation followed which sought to gradually limit and eventually prevent asbestos exposure in public places like schools, libraries, and offices. Prolonged and repeated exposure through jobs making or using those products is also a prevailing hazard today.
In 1990, the EPA enacted revisions to their National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP), which effectively forced the majority of the 25 largest manufacturers of the hazardous material in North America to file for bankruptcy. These included: Amatex, Carey-Canada, Celotex, Eagle-Pitcher Industries, Forty-Eight Insulations, Manville Corp., National Gypsum, Standard Insulation, Unarco, and UNR. The list of asbestos products made prior to this enforcing action included thousands of uses in a wide range of industries, such as: battery boxes, brake linings, cements, clutch facings, felt, filters, fireproof matter, textiles, paper, ropes, and water pipes.
Many of these contained vermiculite, a naturally-occurring mineral formed by the hydration of basaltic minerals. It is mined for commercial application primarily in China, Brazil, and South Africa. Asbestos is not always found together with it. It takes thousands of years for it to develop, but when it does, it contaminates the pure version of the mineral. Until the NESHAP revision in 1990, manufacturers were permitted to use the contaminated kind as a raw material.
According to the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, perhaps millions of those who served in the military were exposed to the carcinogenic materials due to their heavy use in almost every ship build before World War II, as well as aircraft, vehicles, and buildings. These materials were also allegedly imported to Iraq in 2003. In this case, current asbestos exposure would still be possible. One important resource for evaluating asbestos exposure is the Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry (ATSDR), a public health group based in Atlanta, operating under the umbrella of the Department of Health and Human Services. They profile four major sources for which one might be at risk in the present-day: • Libby, Montana: This mining site has been in operation since the 1920’s. Its ore was contaminated with asbestos, and the company responsible from 1963 until 1990 was found to knowingly conspire to continue operations and conceal the harm. Results of ATSDR investigations show the mortality rate from asbestosis (a related disease) for the mining area to be 40 times higher than the rest of the state, and 60 times higher than the average for the United States. Following this case, a disease registry was created to help share diagnostic tools and therapies among patients, policymakers, and researchers. • Naturally Occurring: Asbestos exposure can be a problem while working in a garden, digging, “off-road” vehicle use, running or hiking - any activity which stirs up dust from soil. Those involved should be aware that these activities can release fibers into the air for inhalation. The EPA recommends reducing risk by avoiding these activities in poorly ventilated areas, keeping soil damp to avoid dust, and limiting the introduction of the fibers into the home - on clothing. Once indoors, they settle and remain until disturbed again. • World Trade Center: Because the North Tower of the World Trade Center was built with asbestos-containing materials, its demolition on September 11, 2001 released it into the atmosphere. The ATSDR conducted testing and found low amounts in surface dust in lower Manhattan. The agency advised frequent cleaning with HEPA vacuums and damp cloths to reduce risk. Additionally, those who worked on the clean-up should monitor their health closely for long-term effects from more concentrated inhalation and related illnesses from Ground Zero. • Other commercial applications: Like the WTC clean-up, other demolition work and any work on building maintenance, repair and remodeling, or manufacturing work may constitute occupational asbestos exposure if proper precautions to prevent inhalation are not taken. For early detection strategies and more on the symptoms of asbestos disease - conditions like asbestosis, and mesothelioma, as well as lung and other cancers - consult the related articles.
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