Few people know that this toxin can increase the risk of lung cancer just as much as tobacco.
Cancer is no longer a rare health issue in today’s world. Anyone can be at risk of developing this disease, and many harmful toxins that can cause cancer may be lurking in our surroundings. Among these, asbestos is a substance that has been recommended for avoidance due to its very high toxicity risk. In the United States, Japan, and many other countries, the use of asbestos in daily life has been banned. Unfortunately, many people continue to use it without understanding the extent of its dangers.
Understanding Asbestos
According to the Ministry of Health, asbestos is a double silicate of Calcium (Ca) and Magnesium (Mg), containing naturally occurring SiO2.
Asbestos consists of 2 groups:
- (a) Serpentine Group: Chrysotile (White Asbestos) is twisted and is the only type of asbestos still commercially consumed today. While many developed countries have banned all forms of asbestos, some countries, particularly developing ones like Vietnam, still continue to use white asbestos;
- (b) Amphibole Group, which includes: Actinolite, Amosite (Brown Asbestos), Crocidolite (Blue Asbestos), Tremolite, Anthophylite. The Amphibole fibers have a straight, needle-like structure and are collectively referred to as colored asbestos, which has been banned in many countries worldwide and has not been in circulation for the past 20 years.
Asbestos has thin, long fibers that can separate and are very soft.
Products containing asbestos: construction industry, thermal insulation, electrical insulation, soundproofing, brake pads, shipbuilding… Asbestos is also used in defense technology, space travel, and nuclear power plants.
What are the negative health impacts of asbestos on humans?
Asbestos has thin, long fibers that can separate and are very soft. These fine fibers can linger in the atmosphere and water for weeks or even months. If asbestos enters the human body, it can cause significant harm to the lungs. Additionally, the latency period for asbestos-related diseases can be very long, ranging from 20 to 50 years. This illustrates the potential impact on lung health if not detected in time.
Asbestos has excellent fire resistance, making it a natural fireproof material. (Illustrative photo).
Furthermore, asbestos has strong fire and thermal insulation properties, which makes it a common fireproof material in daily life. For this reason, it is widely used in many places, silently impacting human health.
So where does asbestos commonly hide? How can we prevent it?
Asbestos is used in various environments such as homes, schools, some office buildings, household electronics, appliances, tiles, and many materials used in cars, such as seat cushions and brake pads. It is evident that asbestos is present in many locations, so people should be cautious in their daily lives, particularly in certain industrial areas. During the process of removing asbestos, it is essential to wear protective equipment to prevent the spread of this substance.
These fiber cement sheets for roofing contain harmful asbestos.
Canada was once the largest producer of asbestos, but the health of its citizens has been significantly affected by this substance. Subsequently, many countries in Europe and the Americas began to restrict its use. The United States, Japan, and other nations have banned asbestos.
According to information from the Ministry of Health, all types of asbestos, including white asbestos (Chrysotile), are confirmed to be harmful to health. After 40 years of research, since 1973, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), part of the World Health Organization (WHO), has gathered enough evidence from human and experimental studies to classify all types of asbestos as Group 1 carcinogens in humans.
The IARC’s 100C Special Issue in 2012 concluded after reviewing hundreds of studies published in international journals: “Although there are differences in toxicity levels in the studies of various authors, the overall conclusion is that all types of asbestos, including white asbestos, are carcinogenic” and there is no safe threshold for carcinogens. The U.S., Germany, Australia, and the European Union all assert that all types of asbestos, including white asbestos, are carcinogenic to humans.
