Asbestos Hazards

asbestos hazard

Asbestos has long been recognized as a serious respiratory hazard and a carcinogen affecting both the respiratory and gastrointestinal systems. It breaks down into microscopic fibers that can become airborne, leading to exposure when inhaled. Due to their small size and unique shape, these fibers can remain suspended in the air for extended periods and easily penetrate body tissues when inhaled or ingested. Notably, asbestos fibers are far too small to be seen without a powerful microscope—an average human hair is approximately 1,200 times thicker than an asbestos fiber.

Asbestos poses a serious health risk when inhaled. Detecting its presence in the air is difficult because it does not cause immediate symptoms like coughing or irritation. In many cases, asbestos-related illnesses take 10 to 40 years to develop. These diseases are challenging to treat and, in most cases, impossible to cure.

One common asbestos-related disease is asbestosis, which causes lung inflammation and scarring. Mesothelioma, a rare but aggressive cancer, affects the outer lining of the lungs and abdomen. Asbestos exposure has also been linked to other forms of lung cancer. These diseases are often extremely painful.

Because exposure occurs when asbestos fibers become airborne and are inhaled, the best way to prevent harm is to keep asbestos-containing materials intact and undisturbed—preventing the release of fibers into the air.

Due to serious health risks, asbestos is no longer used in most applications. It becomes especially hazardous when asbestos-containing materials are disturbed, releasing microscopic fibers into the air. Safely handling, detecting, encapsulating, or removing asbestos requires a trained professional in Massachusetts who is certified to work with asbestos.

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