Thread: Asbestos

There are seams of asbestos in the rocks around one of the Karijini NP swimming holes. A few signs indicate that it is best not to disturb it.
Cheers

Originally Posted by JDNSW

There is a critical difference - glass fibre, while thoroughly unpleasant, is not carcinogenic. In addition, because unlike the minerals discussed above, it does not have regular cleavage planes, it does not tend to break into particles that actually get into the lungs, or at least not in the same quantities.

Worth comparing the effects of another mineral - silica on lungs. This has been known to cause permanent lung damage for over a century, but is not carcinogenic. Historically those affected have been affected by operations that involve dry crushing of rocks that include silica, but there has recently been a rise in cases involving the making of concrete kitchen benches where cutting or polishing has been done dry.

Another comparison is black lung in coal miners - again, destroys lung function, but is not carcinogenic. Almost completely restricted to coal miners as far as I am aware.

All very true.

Over time the degree of cancer causing potential of various materials becomes apparent by exposure and outcome.

Fibreglass has been around for well over 60 years and not classed as carcinogenic. I've been using it for over 40 years with the correct PPE always.

DL