U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Asbestos Information

Information on asbestos uses, health hazards, sources, cancer risks, physical proprties and more can be found at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) website at http://www.epa.gov/ttnatw01/hlthef/asbestos.html

Some of the information on the site includes:

Hazard Summary-Created in April 1992; Revised in January 2000

Asbestos has been used in building materials, paper products, plastics, and other products. Exposure mainly occurs in indoor air where it may be released from these materials. Effects on the lung are a major health concern from asbestos, as chronic (long-term) exposure to asbestos in humans via inhalation can result in a lung disease termed asbestosis. Asbestosis is characterized by shortness of breath and cough and may lead to severe impairment of respiratory function. Cancer is also a major concern from asbestos exposure, as inhalation exposure can cause lung cancer and mesothelioma (a rare cancer of the thin membranes lining the abdominal cavity and surrounding internal organs), and possibly gastrointestinal cancers in humans. EPA has classified asbestos as a Group A, known human carcinogen.

For more informatio please go to USPEA website

Asbestos Facts as Per the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry

As per the website for The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, the following are Asbestos Facts:

• When asbestos fibers are inhaled, most fibers are expelled, but some can become lodged in the lungs and remain there throughout life. Fibers can accumulate and cause scarring and inflammation. Enough scarring and inflammation can affect breathing, leading to disease.
• People are more likely to experience asbestos-related disorders when they are exposed to high concentrations of asbestos, are exposed for longer periods of time, and/or are exposed more often.
• Inhaling longer, more durable asbestos fibers (such as tremolite and other amphiboles) contributes to the severity of asbestos-related disorders.
• Exposure to asbestos, including tremolite, can increase the likelihood of lung cancer, mesothelioma, and non-malignant lung conditions such as asbestosis (restricted use of the lungs due to retained asbestos fibers) and changes in the lung lining.
• Changes in the lining of the lungs (pleura) such as thickening, plaques, calcification, and fluid around the lungs (pleural effusion) may be early signs of asbestos exposure. These changes can affect breathing more than previously thought. Pleural effusion can be an early warning sign for mesothelioma (cancer of the lining of the lungs).
• Most cases of asbestosis or lung cancer in workers occurred 15 years or more after the person was first exposed to asbestos.
• Most cases of mesothelioma are diagnosed 30 years or more after the first exposure to asbestos.
• Mesothelioma has been diagnosed in asbestos workers, family members, and residents who live close to asbestos mines.
• Health effects from asbestos exposure may continue to progress even after exposure is stopped.
• Smoking or cigarette smoke, together with exposure to asbestos, greatly increases the likelihood of lung cancer. See Cigarette Smoking, Asbestos Exposure, and your Health.

Source: http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/asbestos/asbestos/health_effects/index.html

OSHA Asbestos Information Page

Asbestos is well recognized as a health hazard and is highly regulated. An estimated 1.3 million employees in the construction and general industry face significant asbestos exposure on the job. Heaviest exposures occur in the construction industry, particularly during the removal of asbestos during renovation or demolition. Employees are also likely to be exposed during the manufacture of asbestos products (such as textiles, friction products, insulation, and other building materials) and during automotive brake and clutch repair work.OSHA and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) asbestos rules are intertwined.

The site provides links to information relevant to asbestos in the workplace. Go to source link below for more information:

Source: http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/asbestos/