Asbestos was banned in 1976, those exposed during that time have likely either developed the disease or escaped it. How then can it be that the number of asbestos-related diseases has increased?
It's very simple, it takes time for mesothelioma to develop, which means those exposed in the '70s have developed cancer in the last 10-15 years. Since it was banned about 40 years ago, the cases should start to decrease soon.
That doesn't mean we haven't "invented" something else that can have similar effects, carbon nanotubes have many properties similar to asbestos, so we might see a new wave of mesothelioma in the future, depending on these....
The paradox is that some insulators and others have worked in clouds of asbestos for years without getting sick. Others died prematurely from mesothelioma without having been exposed. Like Steve McQueen.
There are other things that it is more rational to worry about. The risks of radon will also be reassessed.
No, there's nothing strange about that. Asbestos, like any other risk factor, is just a risk-factor. Meaning, not everyone exposed gets sick. Just like not everyone exposed to the common cold virus catches a cold. So should we ignore washing our hands during cold season then? No, those who wash their hands get sick less often. You reduce your risk. If your point is that it's hard to know which group you'll fall into, then yes, that's true. It can't be predicted in advance.
And Steve McQueen is a bad example of someone who got mesothelioma without asbestos exposure because Steve McQueen was exposed to large amounts of asbestos over a long period. First in the merchant marine, then in the marines (he was required to remove asbestos insulation on ships without protective gear as a punishment for infractions) and then from the protective clothing and masks he wore during car races. Before these were exclusively insulated with Nomex, they contained asbestos.
So if you want to find examples of mesothelioma without asbestos exposure, there are many better cases to turn to than Steve McQueen...
The white you see is probably plaster mixed with asbestos...
Take some of the white material and place it in your palm - grind the material with your index finger so that the white dissolves... if you're left with a small gray lump in your palm, it's asbestos. Pull apart the lump and you'll see the fibers!
1. Asbestos is not a substance; it is a designation for a certain type of fiber. Very small fibers that, due to their size, can penetrate far into the bronchial tree/deep into the lung and get stuck there. This causes tissue irritation, inflammation, and scarring.
2. There is a connection between asbestos and cancer. However, it is a specific type of lung cancer, mesothelioma.
3. As several have already pointed out, those who have worked with asbestos their whole lives, often without any protection, are at increased risk. One reason they didn't have protection was because it was not known at the time that it was dangerous.
4. One thing that hasn't been mentioned in the thread, as far as I can see, is that the combination of asbestos and simultaneous smoking is particularly dangerous. The theory has been that workers who smoked while handling asbestos "impregnated" the asbestos fibers with carcinogenic substances from cigarettes. When these fibers then get stuck in the lungs, the lungs are exposed to carcinogenic substances for a very long time.
So, in my opinion, you can be calm!
1. You have not been continuously exposed during your work
2. You have not smoked simultaneously, and thus have not introduced a lot of toxic substances along with the fibers
It's good that you are careful with face protection and such, but cleaning the entire basement sounds overkill. Ventilate for a couple of days if you want, then it's fine.
Another thing, you have smoked and quit. That's great! Every smoke-free year reduces the risk of developing, among other things, lung cancer. After quite a few years, your lifetime risk is not significantly higher than for someone who has never smoked.
Best regards,
Almost completed doctor (for whatever that's worth)
For you as a future doctor, it might be interesting to know how carelessly asbestos was handled even in schools up until the 70s. Asbestos in various forms was used in numerous experiments, and then everyone went out to the smoking area—which also existed in elementary schools...
Furthermore, asbestos was found in a large number of consumer products.
The vast majority of those over 50 have probably been exposed to significantly larger amounts of asbestos in combination with tobacco smoke.
Even in the 70s, it was considered somewhat impolite to blow smoke in people's faces. For example, at the bank, there were signs above the counter asking customers to kindly not blow smoke in the cashier's face!
1. Asbestos is not a substance; it is a term for a certain type of fiber.
At the Swedish Work Environment Authority, the agency primarily dealing with both private and corporate-related issues regarding asbestos, one can, among many other things, in their introductory text about asbestos read:
Asbestos is a collective term for several minerals found in nature. The predominant type of asbestos is chrysotile (white asbestos). Asbestos has been used for a long time due to the material's valuable technical properties. Asbestos has high mechanical strength and flexibility, high thermal resistance, meaning it withstands high temperatures, good sound and heat-insulating capabilities, as well as high chemical resistance, meaning it has high tolerance against chemicals.
Asbestos, in its many occurrences, is therefore a number of minerals with similar properties, i.e., substances - even if none of these themselves carry the name "asbestos". They occur in nature but then in unprocessed form. In any form of processing, the relationship changes, varying significantly depending on the type of mineral and process. It could be helpful to know when we consider the impact these minerals have on living organisms in all the forms they exist in and how we come into contact with them.
Many other questions that appear in this thread are addressed by AMV in a both formally correct and comprehensible manner, considering it is an authority. A simple search for "asbestos" on the homepage generates most hits needed regarding risks, regulations, approaches, etc.
What I appreciate about forums like this is precisely the many personal, often professionally-related or otherwise practically knowledgeable experiences that are hard to find elsewhere, making this thread a good complement - even if there can sometimes be factual errors, as referred to above.
If one has already searched on official sites (based on evidence-based research) like the referred one, it is easy to correct or - if so were the case - complement with other evidence-based research.
It's very simple, it takes time for mesothelioma to develop, which means those who were exposed in the 70s have developed cancer in the past 10-15 years. Since it was banned about 40 years ago, cases should start to decrease soon.
That being said, we haven't "invented" anything else that could have similar effects, carbon nanotubes have many properties similar to asbestos, so we might see a new wave of mesothelioma in the future, depending on these....
Dagens Arbete has written during the year about the trend going in the wrong direction with asbestos-related diseases. Theories are that there is now tearing down and drilling in old buildings with asbestos-containing materials, and the young, new generation of craftsmen is being exposed due to lack of knowledge.
Then there must be environmental and material inventories conducted before construction starts, along with other risk assessments. However, a lot of negligence likely occurs here.
There are mainly three things that we in the Western world should be concerned about regarding our health. Things that make us sick or die prematurely:
1. Smoking. 2. Wrong and too much food. 3. Lack of exercise.
Even though there are individual exceptions, all other risk factors are almost negligible.
You never cease to be amazed at how many smoking and overweight people are worried about their health - for entirely different reasons than their smoking and overweight...
Oh, there's some activity here. Been busy for a couple of days but I'm still alive 😂
No, but it's fine, I've come to terms with it and realize it's probably no big deal, it has happened and I'll make sure it doesn't happen again. Apparently, you're exposed to asbestos daily in small amounts, so a single instance with possibly high exposure shouldn't make much difference.
Regarding smoking, yes, I was a heavy smoker 10-15 years ago, then I quit abruptly. Then it slowly crept back as I joined my wife for 1-2 cigarettes each evening. However, I'm fortunate enough that I can just stop, which I did on Saturday. Broke the habit and said no, and now I haven't touched those nasty sticks 😁
Thank you so much for all the answers. It's interesting about the research on lung diseases and cracking the code for making lungs repair themselves. Many people will benefit from that!
Now I just have to decide whether to hire a company to remove the remaining insulation, or if I'll do it myself but with more knowledge this time. I think it's leaning towards spraying open insulation with tectyl or something sticky, soaking it as much as possible, then wrapping everything in plastic wrap, cutting the pipes, and carrying them out as they are.
Vi vill skicka notiser för ämnen du bevakar och händelser som berör dig.
