1. What is asbestos?

Asbestos is a group of impure and naturally occurring magnesium silicate minerals that exist in rock formations in the form of fibers. When the rock is disturbed, asbestos fibers are released into the air. These naturally occurring fibers do not generally present a risk to health.

2. What are the types of asbestos?
There are two primary forms of asbestos that differ based on their physical characteristics – serpentine fibers and amphiboles. Serpentine fibers are curly pliable fibers that develop in layers or tiers. These fibers are described as chrysotile. Amphiboles are thin rod-like fibers that develop into a chain-like structure. There are five types of amphiboles to include crocidolite, amosite, anthrophylite, tremolite and actinolyte Amphiboles are considered to be the most carcinogenic forms of asbestos fibers and serpentine fibers are the most widely used form of asbestos.

3. What are the health risks for exposure to asbestos?
The most common health risks associated with inhaling high levels of asbestos fibers include the development of lung cancer, mesothelioma and asbestosis. Other effects of exposure to asbestos include an increased risk for cancers of the kidney and larynx.

4. What is lung cancer?
Lung cancer is a cancer of lungs. Lung cancer is the leading cause of death resulting from asbestos exposure. People who work with and use asbestos-based materials have shown to have a higher incidence of lung cancer than the general public.

5. What is Mesothelioma?
Mesothelioma is a cancer of the lining of the abdominal cavity, lungs, chest wall, heart or reproductive organs. The cancer initiates in the lining that protects these organs, not within the organs themselves. Most people who have been diagnosed with mesothelioma have a work history of working a job where high levels of exposure to asbestos occurred over long periods of time. However, some cases of mesothelioma have been documented for lesser occurrences of exposure.

6. What is Asbestosis?
Asbestosis is a condition where lung tissues are scarred with fibrous asbestos material. Asbestosis is a non-cancer condition where the tissue scarring prevents oxygen form properly entering the blood system. There is no known effective treatment for this condition.

7. Where is asbestos found?
Chrysotile, also known as white asbestos, may be found around the globe. Amosite, also known as brown asbestos, is found in Africa in the Asbestos Mines of South Africa (AMOS). Crocidolite, also known as blue asbestos, is found in Africa and Australia.

8. Is asbestos banned for use?
Not all asbestos-based materials are banned. The EPA has banned specific products for use in the US. Language established for the ban of asbestos-based materials includes specific definitions of asbestos, prohibitions on the manufacture, import and processing of asbestos materials and prohibitions on the distribution of such materials in commerce. The language also specifies labeling requirements for specific asbestos-based materials and products.

9. How does asbestos affect my health?
The release of fibers from the manufacture, production and use of asbestos-based materials or aging, deteriorating and damaged asbestos-based materials has been shown to present a health risk. Cutting, sawing, scraping, crumbling, sanding, puncturing and any other activity that disturbs the material allows asbestos fibers or dust to be released into the air. The fibers and dust are then inhaled or swallowed by persons exposed to the airborne matter. 10. When do symptoms of exposure to asbestos appear?Most people affected by asbestos exposure develop symptoms of disease many years following exposure. In many cases it takes as long as twenty to thirty years or more for symptoms to appear.