| Household Products Containing Asbestos
In the past, the heat-resistant qualities of asbestos resulted in its common use in many
household products. Asbestos was used in older small appliances such as coffee pots, toasters,
popcorn poppers, crock pots, irons and ironing boards, electric blankets, and hair dryers.
These appliances can release asbestos fibers when they are disassembled--either by a repairman
or by the home “do-it-yourselfer.” Consumers can also be exposed to asbestos through frayed wiring.
Collectors of old and antique toasters and irons should be particularly careful when handling these
items. Talc products including baby powder may also contain asbestos, and some soil conditioners
and fertilizers contain asbestos-contaminated vermiculite.
Modern appliances in the United States no longer contain asbestos, but this may not be the case in other countries.
Health Effects: Exposure to asbestos can cause serious diseases, including cancer. When you inhale asbestos, some
of the fibers will be deposited in the air passages and on the cells of your lungs. Some of these fibers can remain trapped in the lungs,
causing severe respiratory damage. The asbestos fibers that clear the lungs are trapped in a layer of mucus and carried to the throat,
where they are swallowed and passed on to the stomach. Here, they may become stuck in the membranes lining the stomach or intestines, or
be further distributed throughout the body via the blood. Wherever the fibers are, they have been found to have the potential to promote
genetic “errors” in cell division that can lead to cancer.
How to Avoid or Minimize Exposure: Asbestos exposure at a job site is a major health problem. Your chance of
getting an asbestos-related disease depends on certain factors, including the concentration of asbestos in the air
that was breathed and the duration of the exposure. The more asbestos you inhale, the greater your risk of contracting
an asbestos-related disease. Individual susceptibility to asbestos disease also can play a role; however, cigarette
smokers have been found to be more likely to develop asbestos-related health problems. Smoking weakens the lungs and
therefore contributes to the negative health effects of asbestos exposure. Studies have shown that asbestos-exposed
workers who quit smoking can reduce their risk of developing lung cancer by as much as 50% within five years of quitting.
One of the problems in determining asbestos-related health effects is that symptoms don’t normally develop until many years after you have been first exposed. It can sometimes take up to 40 years for the disease to be diagnosed, although asbestosis has been found in people 5 years after the initial exposure. The asbestos fibers that can cause disease remain trapped in the lungs for life, and there is no “safe” level of exposure to asbestos; even minimal levels may cause asbestos disease.
Workers in certain industries are generally thought to be at higher risk for asbestos exposure. These include construction, shipbuilding, railroad, and automotive industries. Family members of workers exposed to asbestos also face an increased risk of developing asbestos-related diseases due to contact with asbestos dust brought into the home on the worker’s shoes, clothing, skin, or hair. If someone you come in close contact with is potentially exposed to asbestos, make sure that they shower and change their clothes and shoes before coming into the home.
Potential exposure to asbestos also occurs in schools, homes, and public buildings when asbestos products have fallen into disrepair or become damaged. For example, asbestos insulation around pipes may deteriorate, allowing deadly dust to enter the air. Asbestos in ceiling tiles and numerous other building materials may become damaged when disturbed or repaired. If you believe that there is an asbestos problem in your environment, it is best to have it checked out.
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