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Asbestos

According to the EPA, asbestos is a mineral fiber that occurs in rock and soil. It is most often used in insulation materials and as a fire retardant, but can also be found in: ceiling and floor tiles; automobile clutch, brakes, and transmission parts; and packaging, gaskets, and coatings. Being exposed to asbestos can increase your risk of developing asbestosis, which is a serious progressive, long-term, non-cancer disease of the lungs.

Currently there is not ban on the use of asbestos, but there are a few ways in which this chemical is regulated. In 1989 there was a partial ban on the manufacture, import, processing, and distribution of certain asbestos-containing products. This year in April, there was a final rule to ensure that asbestos products are no longer on the market cannot return to commerce. The Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) continue to review the ongoing uses of asbestos and will take immediate actions to address those risks when discovered.

Asbestosis as mentioned above is the result of repeated exposure to asbestos. Through inhalation of asbestos fibers, the lung tissue becomes scarred and are unable to contract and expand normally. With the development of asbestosis, an individual is at an increased risk at acquiring asbestos lung cancer and malignant mesothelioma. 

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