Guys, asbestos fibres are all around and you breathe them in every day but the exposure is so low that it doesn't affect your health. As for those that have been exposed and diagnosed with an asbestos-related illness (and I am sorry if this is upsetting), the incubation period can be anything with the most common being around 20 - 30 years depending on which type of asbestos the person has been exposed to. White asbestos is generally considered to be the least harmful but has also been the most widely used; brown and blue asbestos are generally considered to be the most harmful as their fibres are much smaller and get deeper into the lungs etc. Smokers are much more at risk than non-smokers but it simply isn't true that you have to be bathed in the stuff - there are no hard and fast rules - some sufferers exposure could have been minimal, others may have worked with it all their life but suffer no lasting effects, some people just have a far greater immunity than others. There were a lot of people exposed to asbestos in the 60's/70's/80's which is why the numbers of asbestos related illnesses are peaking now due to the incubation period. There is still quite a bit about in old buildings and building materials - there is an ongoing advertising campaign from the health & safety executive warning tradesmen of the dangers of asbestos. You have to remember though that asbestos was so widely used because it is a fantastic insulator and heat resistant material and is quite safe so long as it isn't damaged or disturbed - problems are only likely to arise when the fibres are released and people get exposed. I am sorry if this thread upsets anyone in any way, I was just trying to raise awareness and dispel a few myths.
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