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• WHAT IS ASBESTOS? <br />A generic term for a group of minerals which share fiber form, are flame resistant, and are nearly <br />indestructible. When Asbestos is released from its bonding material, it readily seperates into <br />fibers. Asbestos was used for its non - combustible and chemically resistant qualities. It was used <br />for electrical, acoustical and thermal insulation, increasing the fire resistance qualities of steel <br />beams and columns, and in resilient floor tiles. <br />Asbestos may be found on ceilings, walls and floors, in plasters, pre- formed tile; covering on <br />boilers, furnaces, duct work and piping; gloves and aprons; in electrical wiring and cement <br />products. <br />HEALTH EFFECTS <br />Asbestos fibers can enter the body two ways: by inhalation (breathing) or ingestion <br />(swallowing). Asbestos cannot enter through the skin. The body's defenses have the ability to <br />trap and expel many of the particles in the air we breathe. However, as the level of airborne fibers <br />increases, so does the chance that asbestos fibers will bypass these defenses. Once in the body, <br />asbestos fibers are indestructible. Once past the body defenses, there are a number of illnesses <br />which can develop: <br />Asbestosis - a buildup of scar tissue causing oxygen starvation in the lungs and <br />difficulty in breathing. <br />Mesothelioma - cancerous tumors in the lining of the chest or abdomen. <br />Lung Cancer - malignant cell abnormalities in the bronchial tubes and lung tissues. <br />29 <br />