Asbestos cancer mesothelioma
Asbestos is one of the most potent carcinogens known. Lung cancer in exposed workers are up to seven times more frequent than in the general population and up to 12 times in the case of workers who are also smokers.
Another type of cancer, pleural mesothelioma, is due to occupational exposure to asbestos by 75%.
More recent studies estimate that over the next 35 years will die in Western Europe about 250,000 people from cancer caused by asbestos exposure. According to these studies, Spain will produce about 500 and 1000 deaths from mesothelioma from lung cancer each year, which added about 50,000 in the 35 years between 1995-2030.
There is also a risk for relatives of workers. Have been reported cases of cancer in women from contact with asbestos work clothes of her husband.
The dispersion of asbestos in the environment also involves a grave risk to the health of the entire population.
What and where is asbestos?
Asbestos, also known as asbestos (for which we will use both names interchangeably), is the name used to designate a group of fibrous metamorphic minerals natural.
There are three main types of asbestos:
- Crocidolite or blue asbestos
- Amosite or brown asbestos
- Chrysotile or white asbestos
All types of asbestos are dangerous
Asbestos minerals have long and strong fibers that can be separated and are flexible enough to be intertwined and also resist high temperatures. Because of these characteristics, asbestos has been used for a wide variety of manufactured products, mainly in construction materials (roofing shingles, tile, paper products and asbestos cement products), friction products (automobile clutch , brakes, transmission components), heat-resistant textiles, packaging, gaskets, and coatings.
Some products may contain only one type of asbestos or a mixture of various types.
