Asbestos Deposits
Asbestos deposits are natural, underground concentrations of the fibrous mineral and are found all over the Earth. In its natural state, asbestos occurs in two-thirds of the rocks located in the earth's crust.
Asbestos a Fibrous Mineral
Asbestos fibers are formed by the gradual growth of mineral crystals in cracks, or veins, found in soft rock formations. The crystals grow across the vein, and the width of the vein determines the resulting asbestos fiber length.
When these fibers are released into the air through mining or natural erosion, wind can carry the fibers great distances.
Chances are You’ve Inhaled Asbestos Today
Asbestos fibers can only harm a person if they are inhaled. Unbeknownst to most people, every day each person on the planet, depending on their location, inhales approximately 10,000 to 15,000 airborne asbestos fibers that originated from one of the world’s many asbestos deposits.
Health Risks Related to Natural Asbestos Deposits
The chances of contracting an illness like mesothelioma cancer as the result of breathing in fibers from natural, undisturbed asbestos deposits is very low. While risks may be low, mesothelioma is significantly more likely to occur in people who live near these deposits. According to studies:
- The risk of mesothelioma decreased by more than 6 percent for every 10 km the test subject lived away from the nearest asbestos deposit
The Danger of Mined Asbestos Deposits
Of course, living near an asbestos deposit that is being mined significantly increases the likelihood of asbestos related health issues. There are countless numbers of cases where asbestos miners and people living near the mines have developed asbestos related illnesses.
One of the more infamous examples of this happening was seen when the small mining town of Libby, Montana, was virtually destroyed by the hazardous effects asbestos deposit mining had on the health of its population.
Strategies to Counter Natural Asbestos Health Risks
The US’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has identified hundreds of natural asbestos deposits throughout the United States. The EPA suggests the best ways to minimize naturally occurring asbestos fibers from going airborne are:
- Cover exposed earth with grass or other vegetation
- Pave dirt roads
The EPA insists that if left undisturbed, natural asbestos deposits pose an insignificant public health risk.
For more information regarding asbestos deposits, please contact Mesothelioma Centers today.
