How Long Does Asbestos Remain in The Air?

How Long Does Asbestos Remain in The Air?

How Long Does Asbestos Remain in The Air?

Asbestos is a naturally earth-formed fibrous, silicate mineral found in rocks and soil. Asbestos is odorless, insoluble, heat, and fire-resistant. Despite its strength and thermal resistance, asbestos can become brittle and break down into microscopic, glass-like particles that can become airborne. Once airborne, humans can inhale these particles nearby and cause severe cancerous and non-cancerous diseases. The health risks associated with asbestos raise questions, such as how long does asbestos remain in the air?

No single yes or no answer to the question exists. Numerous variables affect how long asbestos particles can stay in the air, such as:

The Amount of Asbestos

Asbestos has been in use since the early 1900s in various materials produced for building or home construction, auto components, and manufactured products because of its fiber strength and heat resistance. Some of the numerous applications in which asbestos has been used include:

  • Ceiling tiles
  • Cement pipe and sheets
  • Coatings and compounds
  • Drywall
  • Duct tape
  • Fiber jointing
  • Fireproofing materials
  • Flooring
  • Friction materials (brake pads and shoes)
  • Gaskets
  • Mastics
  • Millboard
  • Paper
  • Plastics
  • Potting soil
  • Roofing shingles and materials
  • Textiles
  • Thermal and electrical insulation
  • Thread

The more asbestos you are exposed to, the more likely you will get an asbestos-related disease. In studies of asbestos fibers in outdoor air, concentration was almost one thousand times greater near industrial sources such as asbestos mines, factories manufacturing asbestos products, demolition sites, or improperly protected asbestos-containing waste sites.

The Size of Asbestos Particles

Asbestos particles are so tiny that they are microscopic. A particle of that size weighs so little that it would not drop from the atmosphere for at least several days or weeks. When they get into your body, tissues, and organs, they can remain in the body undetected for an indefinite time. It can be as many as 35 to 40 years before severe cancer symptoms like mesothelioma appear. Asbestos particles travel deep into the tissues, lungs, and other organs and cannot be eliminated due to their silicate composition.

Whether the Area is Enclosed or Open-Air

Asbestos particles are so lightweight that they may continue to float in the air if any air currents disturb them. Air conditioning systems, fans, or a slight breeze from a window, can disrupt asbestos-containing materials and add new particles or release already settled fibers into the air. When renovating or remodeling older homes or working in older buildings, the asbestos materials can be disturbed by cutting, chipping, drilling, grinding, sanding, or improper handling and become airborne.

Because asbestos fibers are so tiny and lightweight, they are invisible to the naked eye. There is no way to tell how long asbestos does stay in the air of your building or home by observation. The only way to know asbestos is present in an area is to have professional asbestos testing done to ensure your space is safe.

Why is Asbestos Dangerous?

According to OSHA, breathing in asbestos fibers can cause inflammation and scarring of lung tissue. Lungs progressively have a more challenging time breathing in oxygen, resulting in disability. Asbestos also has been proven to cause fatal cancerous tumors in the membrane lining of the lung or stomach.

While most cases of asbestos-related disorders form after years of prolonged exposure, acute cases of an asbestos-related disease can happen from shorter, concentrated exposures. Most asbestos-related diseases are irreversible but preventable with the correct personal protective equipment, engineering tools, and safety processes.

How Does Mesothelioma Affect the Body?

Mesothelioma is a solid tumor that begins with the inhalation or ingestion of asbestos particles. These microscopic particles penetrate the tissues in the lining surrounding bodily organs and remain there indefinitely. Pleural mesothelioma is the most diagnosed asbestos-related cancer; however, three other types can affect other organs of the body.

Symptoms include:

  • Labored breathing
  • Chronic cough
  • Chest pain
  • Sudden weight loss
  • Pain under the rib cage
  • Lower back pain
  • Exhaustion
  • Fever
  • Fluid retention
  • Sweating
  • Difficulty swallowing
  • Nausea

Most people do not receive a mesothelioma diagnosis until a later stage in its development, as it can take 30 to 45 years for symptoms to appear. Malignant mesothelioma is an aggressive cancer that can eventually spread through the lymph nodes into other organs and parts of the body. Treatments such as surgeries, chemotherapy, radiation, targeted drug therapy, and immunotherapy may slow the growth or relieve the symptoms.

Contact Goldberg, Persky & White P.C. today is you are an asbestos victim. We can help you file an asbestos claim to obtain financial compensation to help pay medical expenses and provide for your family.

Sources: 
Darnton A, Hodgson, J, “The Quantitative Risks of Mesothelioma and Lung Cancer In Relation To Asbestos Exposure” World Health Organization International Agency for Research on Cancer [Link]
Lyon France, “Arsenic, Metals, Fibers, and Dusts Volume 100 C a Review of Human Carcinogens” World Health Organization International Agency for Research on Cancer (2012)  [Link]
Testa Joseph, Weg Carol, Weg Kenneth, “The Quantitative Risks of Mesothelioma and Lung Cancer In Relation To Asbestos Exposure” National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc [Link]
“Asbestos” United States Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration [Link]
“Treatment of Mesothelioma Based on the Extent of the Cancer” American Cancer Society (2019) [Link]
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