Asbestos

I was recently contacted by Jesse Herman, who is the awareness coordinator at the Mesothelioma Cancer Center. He has been reaching out to fire fighter bloggers in an effort to get their message out with regards to asbestos, and in lieu of the work that is in progerss at the "Capital Plaza" complex with the asbestos removal, his timing couldn't have been any better. The following article is one he has forwarded to me. If you would like some more info on the subject you can visit their site at www.asbestos.com. They have a lot of good information to read through.

His text is as follows:

Asbestos Exposure a Concern for Firefighters

The life of a firefighter brings many potential threats that can be easy or hard to see. Kids at a very young age realize the profession itself takes a great deal of courage. But the reality of the profession, along with so many things in life, is not always so appetizing. One of the hidden threats that are not so glamorous is asbestos exposure.
Firefighters are exposed to many risks on a daily basis, but one that can go unnoticed is the danger of asbestos exposure. A naturally-occurring mineral, asbestos was used throughout the 20th century in a number of industrial, military and construction applications due to its innate resistance to fire and highly durable qualities.
The threat of asbestos for firefighters is subtle and there are seldom warning signs to allow a firefighter to know whether they are or have been exposed to asbestos. Firefighters who have been exposed to asbestos usually have been in situations where they had reasons to believe they are safe.
The mineral was mixed into paint, combined with cellulose to make fiberboard and wallboard, mixed with cement to make siding shingles and formed into felt for use as roof felting and backings on vinyl flooring. Asbestos was even used in joint compound, which was used in dozens of different kinds of applications.
Tips and Important Info

The mere presence of asbestos in a home or a building is not hazardous. Most professionals suggest leaving the asbestos alone. If a firefighter located any asbestos, the best thing to do is leave it un-disturbed, as this will not allow its fibers to become airborne.

Any home or building built before 1980 has a good chance of still containing asbestos. Even firehouses should be inspected for asbestos as many of them were constructed prior to any asbestos ban.

The inhalation of asbestos fibers can lead to the development of a rare, but severe form of asbestos lung cancer known as mesothelioma. Due to the fact that symptoms of mesothelioma are similar to less serious conditions, diagnosis is a difficult task for physicians. Mesothelioma has and continues to affect firefighters who were unknowingly exposed while on duty. Mesothelioma diagnosis has been a difficult task because many of its symptoms appear in other less serious conditions.

In the case of a fire, asbestos fibers get released and when breathed in, can scar the lungs. While asbestos has been banned for most of its uses since the early 1980s, there is still a probability that asbestos fibers can be released in the air. This can only happen when asbestos-laden materials are deteriorated or broken down.

If you are a firefighter and believe you have experienced asbestos exposure, it is important to receive regular screenings by physicians to identify a possible disease. It should be known asbestos exposure does not always lead to a disease, but because the latency periods associated with asbestos illnesses can last 20 to 50 years, a regular check up is advisable.