Page 82 - Xmo Strata - Bulletin Archive

2/7/2019 Page 2 of 3

What does Asbestos look like?

Asbestos fire blanket Asbestos insulating board Asbestos ceiling tiles (damaged)

Asbestos cement roof (damaged)
Asbestos downpipe and Asbestos cement roof
hopper

What is asbestos - why is it problem?

Asbestos was used extensively as a building material in Great Britain from the 1950’s through to the
mid-1980’s. It was used for a variety of different purposes and was ideal for fireproofing and insulation.
Any type of building built before 2000 (houses, factories, offices, schools, hospitals etc.) could contain
asbestos. Asbestos materials in good condition are safe unless the asbestos fibres become airborne,
which happens when the materials are damaged.

Asbestos fibres are present everywhere in the environment in Great Britain so everyone is constantly
exposed to very low levels of fibres. However, a key factor in the risk of developing an asbestos-
related disease is the total number of fibres breathed in. So there is a possibility that being exposed to
asbestos fibres for a short period of time can cause cancer. Working on or near damaged asbestos
containing materials or breathing in high levels of asbestos fibres, which may be many hundreds of
times that of environmental levels, could increase your chances of getting an asbestos related
disease.

When these fibres are inhaled they can cause serious diseases which are responsible for around 4000
deaths a year. There are three main diseases caused by asbestos: lung cancer, asbestosis (which
are almost always fatal), and mesothelioma (which is always fatal). Remember, these diseases will
not affect you immediately but later on in life, so there is a need for you to protect yourself now to
prevent you contracting an asbestos related disease in the future. It is also important to remember
that people who smoke and are also exposed to asbestos fibres are at a much greater risk of
developing lung cancer.