Asbestos- Goertzen/Klassen

Physical Properties: -solubility: insoluable in water and solids, not in acids

-odor: disgusting flavor and smell

-hardness: harder that steel

Chemical Properties: -combustibility: non-flammable

-it is inert

-melting point: 3,410 C

(Barbalace, 2004)

Asbestos is a substance as strong as steel, but it is also flexible. It is ... "impure magnesium silicate minerals which occur in fibrous form."(Environmental Protection Agency [EPA]) Asbestos is not an absorbant but an inhalent. When the product it is bent or broken, the asbestos is realeased into the air. Some of the effects of inhaled asbestos are lung cancer, lung scarring (asbestosis), and mesothelioma, which is also a type of cancer. Probably the scarriest part is, most toxins have effect that appear within monthes, or even acouple years, but asbestos's symptoms take up to 30 years before they show themselves. (Grayson, 2010)

"The chemical formula depends on the type:

-Chrysotile (White), Mg3(Si2O5)(OH)4

-Amosite/Grunerite (Brown) Fe7Si8O22(OH)2

-Crocidolite (Blue) Na2(Fe,Mg)5Si8O22(OH)2"

(Simon, 2011)

Asbestos are found and mined in United States and Canada. They are found in many household appliances and products such as coffee pots, toasters, hair dryers, chalkboards, and baby powder. It is also found in building materials such as drywall, vinyl flooring, linolium, bricks, stucco and many others ("Where is asbestos,"). Diseases that are causes or triggered are asbestos, which is when the lung tissue scars; mesothelioma; lung cancer; and many more. ("Health effects of," )

In our opinion, asbestos should definately not be allowed in any materials whatsoever. Sure, it is a good material that is durable, and just overal, a material that fits many purposes, the risks are definately not worth the bennefits. Think of how much you expose yourself to this chemical on a daily basis, and even berfore you leave the house. Asbestos is in the floor you walk on, the wall you touch to steady yourself after you get up to fast in the morning, the coffee pots you make your morning coffee in, and even the toasters you use to prepare your breakfast. This is deffinately not a chemical that should be allowed on assembly line, or even near factories.

Video on asbeston: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ir6BztHhcCM




Articleon the dangers of asbestos: http://www.bigarticles.net/Article/Dangers-of-Asbestos-Poisoning/327418

1)Barbalace, R.C. (2004, October). Asbestos, it's chemical and physical properties. Retrieved from http://environmentalchemistry.com/yogi/environmental/asbestosproperties2004.html

2)Grayson, Lee. (2010, September 25). Description of asbestos [Online Forum Comment]. Retrieved from http://www.ehow.com/about_7237473_description-asbestos.html

3)Health effects of asbestos exposure. (n.d.) Retrieved fromhttp://www.asbestos.org/HealthEffects/Asbestos%20Diseases.html

4)Simon, Paul. (2011). What is the chemical formula of asbestos?. Retrieved from http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_the_chemical_formula_of_asbestos

5)Where is asbestos found? . (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.asbestos.net/exposure/risks/where-is-asbestos-found