Asbestos Facts and Statistics
Posted on Thursday, May 5th, 2016 at 2:35 pm
This article discusses basic asbestos facts and statistics. It also discusses general asbestos exposure facts and history.
Asbestos Facts and Statistics
- Asbestos becomes a potential risk when asbestos fibers are airborne and breathed into the lungs
- Asbestos fibers are released into the air from disturbances, such as cutting, sawing, wear and tear of asbestos materials
- To the naked eye asbestos fibers look like dust particles
- It was first confirmed in 1942 that asbestos exposure causes cancer
- Mesothelioma was for the first time definitively linked to asbestos exposure in 1964
- Mesothelioma is the second most diagnosed cancer. It is caused by asbestos exposure
- Asbestos exposure is almost exclusively responsible for all mesothelioma cases
- In the late 1970s the U.S. stopped the use of asbestos with a few exceptions
- Asbestos has been declared a known human carcinogen because of its association with deadly cancers like mesothelioma and asbestosis
- The peak period of asbestos use was between late 1930s and the end of the 1970s
- U.S Navy veterans who served during World War II and in the Korean Conflict have the highest incidence of asbestos related diseases
- 30 million pounds of asbestos are still used annually in the U.S.
- Asbestos accounts for 54% of all work related cancers (according to Asbestos Disease Awareness Organisation)
- The number one cause of workplace cancers in the U.S. is asbestos
- Since 1979 about 45000 Americans have died as a result of asbestos related diseases, including mesothelioma and asbestosis
- Asbestos is still mined in the many countries today. One such country is Canada.
- No amount of asbestos exposure is safe
- Exposure to asbestos increases the chances of contracting other types of lung cancer
- The combination of asbestos exposure and smoking significantly increases ones chances of developing lung cancer
- Asbestos can be found today in many schools, homes and commercial/industrial buildings
- Asbestos was once used in more than 3000 different consumer products. One such product is hairdryers.
- Talcum powder has been known to contain asbestos