It’s ironic to think that a mineral that
originates in the earth could actually end up hurting it. But that’s exactly
the case with asbestos.
The naturally occurring fibers are found in
various environmental deposits. They’re often intertwined with rock formations
and other minerals, such as quartz and limestone. Unfortunately, mining these
co-existing minerals can release the nearby asbestos into the air. (Asbestos
itself is no longer mined in Canada, but the fibers that were released during
the process may still be present in the environment.)
Even if it’s already been mined and
processed, construction or building demolition can re-introduce asbestos back
into the environment. For instance, if construction crews bulldoze an
asbestos-containing building without addressing the asbestos products
beforehand, the contaminated debris becomes an exposure hazard.
What
Happens after Asbestos is in the Air?
Like dandelion florets, asbestos fibers can
float through the air for long distances. Even if they land, another gust of
wind can pick them back up and send them elsewhere. This allows them to travel
long distances and eventually settle far from the original deposit.
Asbestos can settle in rivers or streams,
which then contaminates the area’s water supply. One Minnesota study found 2.6
million asbestos fibers per liter of drinking water sourced from Two Harbors,
and 1.9 million fibers per liter of Beaver Bay water. Those levels are more
than high enough to cause illness if ingested.
The fibers can also settle in a thin layer
on top of soil. It doesn’t sink into the ground, and it’s not bio-degradable.
It’s even impervious to fire.
That durable, hard-to-destroy quality is
exactly why so many companies once mined the fibers for industrial use.
Unfortunately, because it was so widely used, there’s now a “background level”
of asbestos in the environment, which everyone is exposed to.
That ambient asbestos level is low enough
that most people will only inhale a fiber or two throughout their lifetimes,
and will never develop health effects. But for the unlucky few – for instance, those who developed peritoneal mesothelioma from swallowing asbestos-contaminated water – that fure
is still a serious environmental problem. Once diagnosed, the life span for a mesothelioma patient is usually up to one year.
Faith
Franz is a researcher and writer for The Mesothelioma Center. She advocates for
alternative medicine and encourages patients to explore all of their treatment
options.
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Resources:
Horvitz, J. S. (1974). Asbestos and its
Environmental Impact. Boston College Environmental Affairs Law Review; 3:1.
Retrieved from
http://lawdigitalcommons.bc.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1941&context=ealr
