Walking along the sidewalk, a member of the Greenpeace NGO approached me and handed me a booklet regarding asbestos and its hazards. Reading the booklet in the bus, I learned that asbestos is a natural mineral found in rocks, somewhat similar to talc. In the industrial revolution after the world war, the demand for asbestos became very high. It was mainly used as insulation or fireproofing usually for ships and heating equipment. 20 years after, reports have been found that workers from asbestos factories started experiencing symptoms similar to that of lung cancer hence Mesothelioma.
Mesothelomia is a type of cancer caused by asbestos inhalation. What’s worse is that the effects of asbestos takes effect 20 to 50 years after being exposed to it. The government already banned the use of this substance yet there are still establishments that unknowingly use it. Mostly insulating ceiling board from old buildings, Airconditioning ducts and generator equipments still have some asbestos linings. This is what Greenpeace is trying to impart to us… to make us aware about the hazards of asbestos.
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