Asbestos can cause severe damage to the lungs if inhaled, yet was a commonly used substance between the 1950s and 1980s owing to its many structural advantages, including its excellent tensile strength, resistance to chemical attacks and inability to conduct heat. Although the use of asbestos has been banned in numerous countries around the world, the UK being one of them, it can be present in many older buildings and structures that still exist today. There is now much more knowledge about the dangers of asbestos than there was several decades ago, yet when in the vicinity of structures that contain asbestos, the risk of exposure remains. This article highlights the top three hazards that are commonly associated with asbestos fibres and how to prevent exposure to them. Whether done by accident or intent, disturbing asbestos is a hazard that could have severe implications on a person's health in the years to come. When it is disturbed, there is a risk of inhaling the tiny fibres that are released, which cling on to the alveoli in the lungs, ultimately causing scarring of the lung tissue.
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