1. Asbestos
Asbestos occurs as bundles of fibers that separate into long, thin fibers.

2. Asbestos Mining No current mines operating in US
Many former mines in California, Vermont & Arizona
Import asbestos from Canada
Found as a contaminant in other types of mines (vermiculite in Libby, Montana)

3. Asbestos Products Insulation Acoustical materials Spackle Gaskets
Tiles, siding & roofing
Brakes & clutches
Vermiculite

4. Health Effects Asbestosis - scarring of lung tissue
Pleural plaques - scarring of membranes lining chest & lung
Lung cancer
Asbestosis is an incurable, progressive scarring of the lung tissue caused by the inhalation of asbestos fibers. Excessive scarring of the lung can result in restrictive lung disease, which may cause difficulty breathing, disability, and sometimes death.
Pleural Plaque is any scarring of the pleura (lining of the lungs) and is generally considered an early sign of asbestosis. The lung walls become thickened as the body attempts to remove the asbestos from the lungs. As the lung wall thickens, breathing may be affected.
Mesothelioma is a rare, incurable form of cancer, in which cancer cells are found in the sac lining the chest or abdomen. It typically develops years after initial exposure to airborne asbestos. It can be contracted with as little as one or two months of asbestos exposure. Family members of asbestos workers have also been known to develop this disease as a result of contact with contaminated work clothes.

5. Health Effects Mesothelioma
Cancer of membranes lining lungs, abdomen & chest
Other cancers - digestive tract, colon, larynx, esophagus, kidney & lymphoma
Asbestosis is an incurable, progressive scarring of the lung tissue caused by the inhalation of asbestos fibers. Excessive scarring of the lung can result in restrictive lung disease, which may cause difficulty breathing, disability, and sometimes death.
Pleural Plaque is any scarring of the pleura (lining of the lungs) and is generally considered an early sign of asbestosis. The lung walls become thickened as the body attempts to remove the asbestos from the lungs. As the lung wall thickens, breathing may be affected.
Mesothelioma is a rare, incurable form of cancer, in which cancer cells are found in the sac lining the chest or abdomen. It typically develops years after initial exposure to airborne asbestos. It can be contracted with as little as one or two months of asbestos exposure. Family members of asbestos workers have also been known to develop this disease as a result of contact with contaminated work clothes.

6. Symptoms Dyspnea Cough/sputum Chest pain/tightness
Restrictive lung impairment
Clubbing of fingers
Asbestos bodies found in lung tissue and sputum
URBANA ATLAS OF PATHOLOGY
Image Number 57 - Lung, bronchus, asbestosis
A foreign body giant cell (multinucleated alveolar macrophage), a ferruginous body, and small alveolar macrophages can be seen.

7. Gas Exchange In Lung
Source:

8. Scar Tissue
Source:

9. Severity Fiber concentration exposure Duration exposure Frequency
Smoking (Risk increases by 10 factor)
Joe Darabant, Johns-Manville Plant in H Building. The workers chipped in to present Joe with two wedding gifts-a clock, so he can get to work on time, and a rolling pin so his wife, Helen, can prod him on a bit. Joe's clothing is covered with chrysotile asbestos fibers. 1949
Joe Darabant was forced to retire in 1974 at age 50 due to his poor health. He died from asbestosis on April 26, 1990 at the age of 66. This photograph was made in 1989 in Joe's bedroom in Manville, New Jersey.
Source:
Boston University of Public Health

10. Deaths
Source: NIOSH, Work-Related Lung Disease Surveillance Report 1999,

11. Mortality Rates
Source: NIOSH, Work-Related Lung Disease Surveillance Report 1999,

12. Deaths By Age 1987-1996 Number of Deaths
Source: NIOSH, Work-Related Lung Disease Surveillance Report 1999,
Total Number of Deaths = 9,614

13. Occupation Number Percent Plumbers/Pipefitters 237 9.2
Insulation Workers
124
4.8
Managers/Administrators
113
4.4
Electricians
106
4.1
Carpenters 97
3.8
Laborers, not construction 88
3.4
Welders & Cutters 73
2.8
Supervisors (production) 72
Janitors/Cleaners 67
2.6
All other occupations
1,441
56.0
Occupation not reported 90
3.5
Source: NIOSH, Work-Related Lung Disease Surveillance Report 1999,

14. Samples Exceeding PEL 1974-1996
Source: NIOSH, Work-Related Lung Disease Surveillance Report 1999,

15. Samples & Severity Levels 1974-1996
Source: NIOSH, Work-Related Lung Disease Surveillance Report 1999,