29. What is the risk from a one off exposure? The risk has not been quantified, but except for intense exposures, the risk caused by brief exposure is likely to be undetectably low. .
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Notas do Editor
Greek for indestructible
Chrysotile most commonly used
The above three photographs are examples of friable asbestos. Friable asbestos is was more widely used in industrial and commercial buildings.
Fibres are most likely to be released if the asbestos is mishandled. Example during home renovations or repairs where the material is drilled, cut or sawn and large amounts of dust is produced and then inhaled.
People who have suffered health effects from E to asbestos have generally worked in either the asbestos mining or milling industry, worked in industries involved in making or installing asbestos products or are from the immediate families of these people. In all of these situations there was E to high levels of airborne dust, either from the processes involved or from the clothes of the workers.
Miners at Wittenoom (crocidolite)
Asbestosis causes breathlessness, tightness in the chest, persistent coughing and skin may have a bluish tinge from lack of oxygen. Breathing becomes more difficult. It usually worsens overtime. May lead to respiratory failure and death.
South African miner
It is usually diagnosed when someone develops a persistent cough, weight loss and coughs up blood. If diagnosed early can be treated with surgery +/_ chemo, radiotherapy
1945- 2000 0ver 6,000 cases in Australia. By 2020, expected to be 18,000 cases in total
Spreads to lung and chest wall May have pleural effusion
Rapid progression MM on x-ray
Unlikely that a brief asbestos exposure necessarily causes a substantial risk of mesothelioma. Use of crocidolite ceased in the late 1960's. Later cement sheet products contained only chrysotile until its use ceased in the early to mid 1980's.
Asbestos-related disease causes 100,000 deaths each year in the world The greatest risks have been from past industry over long periods of time