As someone who is struggling with a diagnosis that is a result of asbestos exposure, you’ve made it your responsibility to warn others of the dangers of asbestos and to fight for your rights that were violated as a result of exposure.
Not all asbestos is dangerous, but some can be. Knowing the difference can help people avoid harm and the risks that come with asbestos exposure.
When does asbestos become dangerous?
Asbestos becomes dangerous when it is able to enter the body. The most common way it does so is by entering the body through the lungs. When you breathe in the small asbestos fibers, there’s a risk of the fibers getting trapped in the lungs. There is also a risk of swallowing the asbestos fibers, which can cause them to become embedded in the abdomen.
Asbestos is the most dangerous when it is in a friable state. This means that it is fragile, making it easy to crumble the asbestos in your hands. When it is in a fragile state, its fibers are more likely to be released into the air. For example, sprayed asbestos insulation is highly friable, but an asbestos floor tile is firm, sturdy and less likely to release fibers.
For the most part, ceiling tiles, undamaged cabinet tops, shingles and other sturdy items won’t release asbestos fibers, even if they’re contained in them. If they are broken, there is a risk, but it is still lower than if you’re around friable asbestos frequently.
Knowing the difference between friable and nonfriable asbestos can help keep you and others from breathing in dangerous fibers. If you do and develop an illness, you deserve to be compensated for your exposure.