Asbestos is found in certain rock formations and is mined from open pit mines. A small amount of asbestos is everywhere – in the air, soil, and water. Therefore, everyone is exposed to some asbestos; it may be in the drinking water and it is in the air at very low levels. However, the asbestos-related diseases usually occur in people who have worked with fairly high levels of asbestos for a long time and who were not protected from breathing in the fibers. Canada is the only industrialized country that still mines asbestos (chrysotile or white asbestos), and it is the second largest exporter of asbestos in the world (after Russia). Mining also occurs in Zimbabwe and South Africa.
- What exactly is asbestos?
- What are the types of asbestos?
- What is asbestos used for?
- Is asbestos dangerous to my health?
- What are the other asbestos related lung diseases?
- Can asbestos exposure lead to other types of cancer?
- What factors affect the risk of developing an asbestos-related disease?
- Who is at risk of being exposed to asbestos?
- Is asbestos banned for use?
- How can I protect myself against the risks of asbestos?
- How do I know if a particular product I work with contains asbestos?
- What is the role of employer
