Biology

Asbestos has been recognized as one of the minerals with adverse side effects on health.  As a mineral, asbestos can be described as a mineral fiber that is mostly used as a construction materials especially in insulation and as a fire-retardant (U.S Environmental Protection Agency, 2010). Due to its health effects, asbestos has been banned for use in several products and has been greatly reduced in others.  However, it is commonly used in manufacture pipes and furnace insulation, shingles, millboard, paints, tiles, and many others. The issue of effects of asbestos on health has been a subject of intense research in many studies where adverse health has been exposed. Understanding of the health effects of asbestos is important as it can give the public various ways through they can reduce exposure to the chemical and hence reduce health effects.   This paper will look into the adverse health effects of asbestos on health.

Adverse health effect
Research findings have shown that long term exposure to asbestos comes with adverse side effects (Lilienfeld, 1991).  In recognition of research findings, governments all over the world have instituted various measures aimed at mitigating the effects of long term exposure to the mineral, more specific reducing the amount of asbestos in products while completely banning its use in products. For example, in 1970s, U.S Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) imposed a total ban on use of asbestos in wallboard pathing and gas fire places However, there are still sources of exposure to asbestos (Environmental Working Group, 2010). The current sources of exposure to asbestos include deteriorating and disturbed insulation, fireproofing, acoustical materials, floor tiles, and many others.

Asbestos fibers are found in the environment though in low levels (HSE, 2010).  The reason why it has become quite difficult to establish health risk associated with Asbestos is that it takes longer time to developed.  The key risk factor for one to develop a health condition related to exposure to Asbestos squarely depends on the total number of fibers that an individual has breathed in (U.S Environmental Protection Agency, 2010).  Intake of high level of asbestos fiber, which comes with long term exposure to asbestos contain materials increases the risk of developing asbestos related complication.

Asbestos related complications have been known to cause more than 4000 deaths every year in Great Britain alone (HSE, 2010). In the United States, the number of death from asbestos is increasing each and every year. It is estimated that asbestos related disease can be held responsible for death of one out of 125 American men who die above the age of 50 (Environmental Working Group, 2010).

Asbestos has largely been attributed to be a causative factor in four main category of diseases which include mesothalioma, which is very fatal lung cancer, an almost always fatal conditions asbestosis, which is not always fatal but can be quite debilitating and finally diffuse pleural thickening, which is not  a fatal condition (OReilly et al., 2007). These disease does not come with immediate effects but their effects are felt later in life which means there is need to take early protection to avoid contracting them. There are different steps that have been taken to minimize exposure to asbestos which include regulations like Control of Asbestos Regulation 2006 in UK (HSE, 2010), U.S Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) ban of asbestos in 1970s, and many others (Environmental Working Group, 2010). At individual level it is advisable to leave undamaged asbestos material alone without any disturbance, use of qualified individuals to handle such materials, and follow procedures while handling asbestos containing materials.
Conclusion
Although asbestos is an important mineral, it comes with adverse health effects.  It has been established that long term exposure to asbestos containing materials can lead to different disease like mesothalioma, lung cancer, asbestosis, and diffuse pleural thickening.

Complications from these diseases lead to thousands of deaths every year. At community level, this topic is important since it gives community members the knowledge on dangers of asbestos and how to avoid long term exposure. With the current efforts in public education on dangers of asbestos exposure, coupled with government regulations and policies, it is hoped in the future, the number of deaths attributed to asbestos will reduce substantially.