Cancer
Cancer - All The Information You Need On Cancer

 




Go To Cancer Home | Add to Favorites

Are Asbestos Fibers Visible To The Eye ?



If you are in the construction business or employed by an industry that uses products containing asbestos, you may wonder “Are asbestos fibers visible to the eye”? Generally asbestos fibers are too small to be seen by the naked eye. Asbestos becomes dangerous when it has broken down into small fibers and is inhaled. It is nearly impossible to detect the presence of asbestos without taking the material to a lab for testing. A lab technician will put the material under a microscope to search for asbestos fibers. Asbestos does not cause an immediate reaction. It will not cause you to cough, sneeze, or your eyes to water. You cannot see, smell, or taste asbestos. If you skin becomes contaminated with asbestos it will not burn or itch.

Asbestos related diseases have a very long latency period. This is the time frame from when you are first exposed to asbestos until you become ill. Most persons do not become ill for at least ten years after exposure and some not until over forty years later. Asbestosis, lung cancer, and mesothelioma are all asbestos related diseases. Asbestosis occurs when asbestos fibers enter the lungs. The body will naturally produce an acid to combat the fibers. However, this acid can cause scarring in the tissue of the lungs and in advanced stages breathing becomes more difficult and painful. Asbestosis was first documented in shipyard workers. Asbestos can also cause lung cancer. If a person smokes and is exposed to asbestos, they have a much greater chance of developing lung cancer. Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that has only been linked to asbestos exposure. It is a cancer of the cells that line the peritoneum (area surrounding the abdominal organs) and the pleura (area outside of the lungs and inside of the ribs).

There is a lot of debate and controversy surrounding which types of asbestos is harmful. Some types of asbestos are thought to be more dangerous than others but all types of asbestos exposure should be avoided. Actinolite, amosite, anthophyllite, crocidolite, chrysotile (white asbestos), and tremolite are all types of asbestos. Chrysotile is the type of asbestos most commonly used in manufacturing products.

Asbestos fibers are not visible to the eye. If you feel you may have been exposed to asbestos, the most common method for testing is a chest x-ray. The x-ray will not show the asbestos fibers but it can spot early signs of lung disease. There is no known cure for asbestos related diseases.


About the author:
Jeff Lakie is the founder of Asbestos Resources a website providing information on asbestos


Source: Article Directory




Google




Dietary Carcinogens That Increase The Risk Of Cancer
One way our diet may increase the risk of cancer is by dietary carcinogens. There are four groups of carcinogens:• Naturally present carcinogens • Carcinogens forming during food preparation • Preservatives and coloring agents added to food • Some substances are changed in to carcinogens in the bodyNaturally ...

Keep Your Colon Clean
Colon cancer is on the rise, with significantly more people being diagnosed with this potentially deadly disease below age 50 than previously. Although colon cancer used to be considered a disease of the elderly, probably because it was diagnosed mostly in older people, it now is seen in those who are much younger. During the 20th century, lifestyles became more sedentary and foods were processed more than before, a combination of factors that may have contributed to unhealthy eating habits and lack of exercise that allows chemically-laced food to sit in the colon for longer periods of time. This allows these substances to have a prolonged effect on bowel tissue, which can lead to the growth of polyps, and ultimately, to colon cancer. Cleansing the internal organs is as ...

Sunlight For Your Life
All life on the planet and everything in nature is dependent on the sun. Without the sun, there would be no life on the planet. All life is dependent on the sun. Plants convert the sunlight into energy, and all animals need plant life...