The
REAP Report: Asbestos
Last
week's report in Cook Islands News of "Nikao
Maori School students' possible exposure to asbestos fibres"
has again focused the spotlight on the dangers involved. There
is already documented evidence of dangerous asbestos particles
along the beaches from Black Rock to Arorangi School as a result
of the improper disposal of asbestos material.
Asbestos
is virtually indestructible by fire or corrosion. These same
qualities made asbestos popular as an insulation material and
are what makes it a danger to human health.
Asbestos
breaks into small slivers or fibrils and forms a fine dust which
we can inhale into our lungs when we breathe. Once the dust
finds it way into the lungs the body has trouble breaking it
down and getting rid of it. This makes asbestos resistant to
the body's natural defense mechanisms as the fibrils become
permanently embedded in the body's tissue.
The
three main diseases that can result from exposure to asbestos
dust are asbestosis, lung cancer and malignant mesothelioma.
Asbestosis leads to breathing problems as the tissues in the
lungs are gradually destroyed by the asbestos fibrils. It normally
occurs after long periods of asbestos exposure.
Lung
cancer occurs in people exposed to large quantities of asbestos
such as people who work with asbestos manufacturing, installation
and removal.
Mesothelioma
is a type of malignant tumor of the chest and stomach which
can develop up to 30-40 years after just a single exposure to
asbestos dust. Once diagnosed, death usually follows in 8-9
months. Tiny dust particles (about 10 microns) are the cause.
Studies show that asbestos dust fibrils under 5 microns in length
are able to be expelled by the body while those slightly larger
but still small enough to enter the body are unable to be expelled
or broken down.
All
types of asbestos are considered a hazardous substance. Fine
asbestos dust is a serious cancer and lung disease danger and
should never be inhaled.
To
insure public safety all asbestos handling and disposal contracts,
private and government, should contain the necessary provisions
outlining the steps to be followed to insure the safe handling
of asbestos by workers and the public in general. There can
be no excuse for not including these public safety provisions
in such contracts. This will insure proper protection even in
the event of the absence of legislation mandating such.
Furthermore,
the disposal of any asbestos should follow strict guidelines.
It must be buried deep after first being wrapped in a heavy
duty polyethylene liner and then being placed in drums, preferably
rubber rather than metal. And those operating the bulldozer
must be very careful not to break the protective layers or asbestos
dust will scatter with the wind. And who knows what innocent
Cook Islander will some day develop cancer as a result.
Cook
Islands News 12th May 2003
