Asbestos Questions and Answers Already Passed

Asbestos Questions and Answers Already Passed What are the characteristics of asbestos? Hazardous substance, incombustible, chemical resistant, fibrous mineral forms of magnesium silicate. What are the six silicate minerals that make up asbestos? Amosite, chrysotile, templite, actinloite, anthrophyllite, and crocidolite. How many current and retired workers are exposed to asbestos? 8-10 million Of the 8-10 million current and retired workers that are exposed to asbestos, what percentage will die of cancer due to asbestos? 30-40% What are the uses of asbestos? Used in building materials, brake lining, textile, insulation paints, plastics, caulking compounds, floor tiles, cement roofing paper, radiator covers, gas mask filters, conveyor belts, pot-holders, ironing board cover, theater curtains. Where can you find asbestos? Through outcroppings of natural minerals, deteriorating asbestos-containing minerals, demolition/renovation of asbestos-containing buildings, and from mining and factories. What is it called when your lungs have been affected by asbestos? Asbestosis What is asbestosis? Chronic disease causing scarring of the lungs; irreversible What percentage of lung cancers are due to asbestos and cigarette smoking? 20-25% What is mesothelioma? Marker disease for asbestos exposure causing lung or stomach cancer. What is the latency period of mesothelioma? 25-40 years post exposure What parts of the gastrointestinal cancer does asbestos affect? esophagus, stomach, colon or rectum What are the risk criteria for asbestos exposure? Time since exposure; age at which exposure occurred; history of cigarette smoking; type and size of asbestos fiber What act requires primary and secondary schools to be inspected for asbestos? Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act AHERA 1986 What is the violation cost for AHERA? $5,000 What are the three ways of dealing with asbestos in our environment? Encapsulation, Enclosure, and Removal How do you encapsulate asbestos? Coat asbestos with polymer sealant to prevent furthur release. How do you enclose asbestos? Close access to small affected areas that are separated from the building by building a non-permeable barrier. What is the best method to deal with asbestos? Removal Why is removal of asbestos not commonly used to deal with the substance? Expensive, time consuming, labor intensive involving physical removal of all asbestos. What is the US occupational exposure to asbestos? 0.2 fiber/cubic meter