Asbestos is used in a wide range of products, such as heat and sound insulation, fireproofing, roofing and flooring. Some of the more common products that can include asbestos are: pipe and duct insulation, , furnaces and furnace doors wall and ceiling panels, building insulation, roofing materials, patching and spackling compound, brake pads and lining, cements, toasters and other heat-related household items, floor tiles.
The most common people afflicted with asbestos-related diseases are construction workers, automobile mechanics, pipe fitters and ship builders.
Some uses of asbestos have been banned. Spraying asbestos materials was banned in 1973. Certain pipe coverings, patching compounds, and artificial fireplace logs were banned in the mid 1970's. In 1979, asbestos decorations that spray-on and hairdryers containing asbestos were banned.
Anyone who is exposed to asbestos is at risk of becoming sick. In fact, there is no safe level of minimum exposure that has ever been established. Many of the first diagnosed cases of malignant mesothelioma were people who never directly handled asbestos as part of their jobs. An early case occurred where a young girl in South Africa was responsible for emptying the pockets of miners before dry cleaning their clothes. The asbestos dust in the pockets made her fatally ill.
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