Special Investigation
Sustainability - Problems of Asbestos
by Divya (12)

This image of asbestos came from this site: http://whyfiles.org/coolimages/images/csi/asbestos.jpg. In many places around Maryland, different types of lung diseases are affecting people. This is due mainly to the cause of asbestos, a naturally occurring mineral in rock. Asbestos was mined for decades and was called, the "miracle fiber", because it could be used in so many ways, and was abundant and was cheap. It is a bluish-green color and has a shiny look to it. You can see what it looks like in the photo I found at http://whyfiles.org/coolimages/images/csi/asbestos.jpg. Even though the name "Asbestos" sounds foreign, you have probably encountered it in some way or another. Asbestos was used to make plasters, roofing materials, pipes, insulation and firemen's clothing. Asbestos is everywhere! Land, water, and air! Most of the time in nature, it is present in very low levels that don't harm us. Asbestos mainly exists inside other rocks, and only affects us when we release it from them. This could happen by cars driving through unpaved roads, as well as through weather and erosion. Once let out, asbestos can linger for very long periods in the same area. Until about the 1960s, people never really knew the dangers of asbestos. By then, they gathered information that certain diseases such as lung disease, asbestosis and digestive system cancers were becoming prevalent in those workers who were exposed to asbestos. Now we are becoming more aware of the dangers of asbestos and are more cautious. People have to check for asbestos in homes and buildings and get rid of it. It can be very dangerous.