Increased public awareness and Federal and State regulations are resulting in the removal of more hazardous materials from buildings, facilities, and the environment to prevent further contamination of natural resources and to promote public health and safety.

 

Asbestos was one of the first air pollutants to be regulated. The NESHAP standard for asbestos includes information on milling, manufacturing and fabricating operations, waste disposal issues, demolition and renovation activities, and asbestos conversion processes.

 

Asbestos Health Effects

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  Acute exposure - This type of study is based on animal experiments. They provide a reliable estimate about the rapid clearance of asbestos from the lungs.

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  Chronic exposure - This type of study has been done with both animal experiment and long-term follow-up on asbestos-exposed workers. They are useful for studying the slow clearance of asbestos from the lungs.

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  Inhalation - Occupational studies have found that asbestos exposure via inhalation can cause lung cancer and mesothelioma (a rare cancer of the membranes lining the abdominal cavity and surrounding internal organs).

• Ingestion - Epidemiological studies have found exposure to asbestos in drinking water can cause cancer of the esophagus, stomach, and intestines. Asbestos fibers have even been found in such samples as urine, feces, or mucus.