Asbestos

Abstract

Asbestos has been of interest to occupational health professionals for hundreds of years, and it has been a chemical that has undergone intense study for much of the past century. Owing to its resistance to combustion, it has been frequently used in high temperature applications. Inhalation of asbestos is the route of exposure which can result in an increased risk of several diseases if dose and duration are sufficient. Research has shown that there is a significant difference in potency between chrysotile and the amphiboles for increasing the risk of lung cancer and mesothelioma. This chapter reviews the chemistry of asbestos fibers, the evolution in our understanding of the toxicology and epidemiology, of asbestos some occupations that have been at historical risk, and yet unresolved aspects in the risk assessment of the various fiber types.