Asbestos was at one time a popular material used in building because it is heat- and fire-resistant and does not conduct electricity. Asbestos is a naturally occurring material that is formed by bundles of fibers that can be separated into usable...
Asbestos, used in the manufacturing of various types of building products, is a mineral known for its thin fibers. The fibers can easily become airborne, where they pose significant hazards, warns the National Institutes of Health. Know the facts...
Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral fiber that has been used in a wide range of fields including, but not limited to, construction, manufacturing and mining. The industrial revolution of the 1800s especially increased the prevalence of use....
Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral fiber that was used extensively as a building material in the construction industry because of its insulation and fire-retardant properties, high tensile strength, and chemical and thermal stability. In...
Asbestos is a long, thin, fibrous mineral found in such products as vinyl floor tiles, cement and insulation. According to the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), asbestos is a dangerous substance that can cause cancer and...
Asbestos is a group of minerals that have long, thin fibers. If asbestos is disturbed, fibers are released into the air and can be inhaled. Most of the fibers are exhaled, but some can become lodged in the lungs. Over time, scarring and...
Asbestos is a mineral characterized by thin, long fibers that has been used as a fire retardant in the construction of buildings. It also has been used in the manufacture of insulation materials, clutches and brakes for cars, in oil refineries,...
There are many toxins in the air that pose a problem when combined with dust. These pollutants can cause several health problems, says the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Children are often at a higher risk because of their size...
Asbestos fibers cause the most damage when they are inhaled, because they don't break down easily and can stay in the lungs for a long time. If you have asbestos in your home or workplace, don't disturb it or try to move it yourself. Call an...
Americans spend as much as 90 percent of their time indoors, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Furnaces, tobacco products, building materials, household chemicals and furnishings release pollutants into your home or...
Asbestosis is a lung disease caused by inhaling asbestos fibers that can increase the risk of lung cancer, according to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute. Asbestos fibers cause scarring when they enter the lung, and the scarred tissue...
Asbestos was used for many decades to reduce the risk of fire in buildings, particularly factories. It was also used as siding on houses. Asbestos is a mineral---either chrysotile or amphibole---that has long fibers. Like so many materials used in...
When anyone begins a demolition or renovation project, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and state agencies require notification if the project involves asbestos removal. These requirements have become law due to the danger of serious...
Exposure to asbestos increases the risk of common cancer that attacks the lungs or a rarer cancer that attacks the membrane lining the chest, studies have concluded. Both types of cancer are highly lethal. Asbestos was widely used in construction...
Your lungs are in constant use whether you are awake or sleeping. They are a vital organ in your body and are necessary to maintaining life. Unfortunately, there are many ways your lungs can be damaged over time. Smokers do this on a regular basis...
Vitamins and minerals may seem harmless when taken in pill form. These are classified by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as dietary supplements. However, taking megadoses of vitamin and mineral supplements usually isn't necessary if you're...
The origin of lung cancer involves a cell of the lung tissue transforming into a cell that does not die when it should, grows uncontrollably and harms the surrounding normal lung tissue. Lung cancer can occur by chance, but exposure to harmful...
Your lung's major airways--bronchi--divide into smaller airways called bronchioles that end in clusters of air sacs called alveoli. If the walls of the alveoli become inflamed, the tissue that lines and supports the alveoli, called the...
Asbestosis is a chronic inflammatory medical condition affecting the parenchymal tissue of the lungs. It occurs after long-term, heavy exposure to asbestos. Sufferers have severe shortness of breath and are at an increased risk regarding several...