Asbestos is actually a natural mineral , specifically calcium magnesium silicate. It is extracted in open pit mines and due to its characteristics it can be transformed into a type of fiber that is used in various applications related to construction . In its popular version it is known as asbestos.
A health hazard
If the asbestos fiber is released from some material it is potentially dangerous, since it floats in the air and can reach the interior of our body. Once inhaled, it lodges in the lungs and over time ends up producing lung diseases such as COPD. It is also the cause of mesothelioma, a type of cancer that affects the cells of the body and each year causes more than 100,000 deaths worldwide.
The effects of asbestos are especially annoying for the body and people who die from its inhalation have painful conditions.
Where is it located?
Homes built before 1975 are likely to include asbestos, and for this reason many people are in danger and do not even know it. This material can be found in all kinds of construction elements, such as thermal insulation, boilers, pipes, synthetic tiles, window putty, roofing materials or cement fibers, among many others.
Despite the fact that public authorities in most countries have banned its use in the construction sector, old buildings continue to be a danger. On the other hand, it continues to be used in illegal constructions and in underdeveloped countries. Research has been done on the materials used to make boilers and in some cases asbestos has appeared. In any case, its total elimination has a very high cost.
Certain manufacturers claim that it is not a dangerous material, but there are associations that continue to fight for this material to stop being manufactured
This mineral is mined in the Canadian region of Quebec, and manufacturers claim that it is completely safe and harmless. They also argue that asbestos is not dangerous if handled correctly and with the proper safety measures . However, certain associations of those affected by asbestos raise their voices and try to make this material totally prohibited.
In the Canadian city of Sarnia there is clear evidence of its damaging effects: a public monument in which all those who died from asbestos inhalation are remembered. Although there are no official figures, it is estimated that thousands of people have died in recent years.
According to recent information, the Canadian government will permanently ban asbestos production from 2018.