Nothing is better to solve high temperature problems in different industries than using heat resistant materials that don’t contain any asbestos. Indeed, asbestos has been associated with many dangerous health issues.
Here are 9 reasons why you need to avoid exposure to asbestos.
1. Lung cancer
Asbestos fibers are so small that they are easy to breathe in and to swallow. The human body can’t properly get rid of them, so when they build up inside your lungs, they can greatly increase your risk of contracting lung cancer.
2. Mesothelioma
Choosing non-asbestos heat resistant materials will help protect you from mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is a rare type of cancer that affects the lining of the lungs. For people who have been exposed to asbestos, the symptoms of mesothelioma, such as chest pain, cough and fatigue, can take up to 20 years to appear.
3. Asbestosis
Asbestosis is another health issue that can affect people years after they have been exposed to asbestos. An accumulation of asbestos fibers can cause scar tissue to appear inside the lungs, and this scar tissue will limit the elasticity and the function of the lungs.
4. Clubbed fingers
Clubbed fingers is a condition associated with asbestosis. The tips of the fingers of asbestosis sufferers can become swollen and misshapen, and this condition is irreversible. When someone develops clubbed fingers, it’s a sign that a more severe health issue will not be avoided.
5. Larynx cancer
Even though larynx cancer is mostly caused by smoking and drinking alcohol, it can also be caused by exposure to asbestos. Asbestos fibers can get stuck in the larynx before reaching the lungs, and cause tumors to develop. The treatment available depends on the stage of the cancer.
6. Ovarian cancer
Women whose father or husband has worked with asbestos are at risk of developing ovarian cancer because of those dangerous asbestos fibers. Even though ovarian cancer is relatively rare, it can be more deadly than other female reproductive system cancers.
7. Pleural diseases
The pleura is the lining of the lungs, and asbestos exposure can cause different benign pleural diseases. Pleuritis, pleural plaques, scar tissues, and fluid build ups are only a few examples of painful conditions that can be caused by exposure to asbestos.
8. Inflammation
Asbestos fibers that are trapped inside the human body can also cause inflammation. Inflammation in the lungs and in the pleura will weaken blood vessels, make them leak fluids, and make it difficult and painful to breathe properly.
9. Genetic damage to the cells of the body
Over years of exposure, asbestos fibers can even cause different genetic damage to the cells of the body. Heavy exposure to asbestos is the most dangerous, but no amount of exposure is considered safe. This is why choosing non-asbestos heat resistant materials to protect your equipment from heat, flames and molten metal splashes is also a good way to protect your health and the health of everyone who works with you.
