The widespread use of asbestos has caused thousands of workers who do not suspect, and their families have been exposed to toxic mineral. The Administration of Occupational Safety and Health Administration of the United States has said there is no other example in which exposure to toxic minerals, has proven so harmful to humans, as has exposure to asbestos. It is estimated that from 1940 to 1970, approximately 27,500,000 individuals were potentially exposed to asbestos. This figure is not surprising when you consider that there are an estimated 1.2 billion square feet of asbestos insulation material contained in 190,000 buildings in the United States, and that the number of exposed workers is estimated at 900,000.
Workers exposed to asbestos in many lines of work and workplaces, ranging from construction to mining, manufacturing and consumer industries. According to one author, the Asbestos Information Association has been estimated that up to 3,000 different uses for asbestos, which has the consequence of asbestos exposure in the areas of mining and processing, manufacturing, primary and secondary products contain asbestos, construction and ship repair and building processes, to name a few.
Harmful exposure to asbestos has occurred not only workers of the works, but even the residents and neighboring communities to mining and manufacturing plants of asbestos products may have been exposed. It is estimated that the release out of work from construction areas reached levels 100 times higher than normal level of asbestos in the environment.
Additionally, household pollution also occurs when the worker brings home clothing contaminated with the toxic mineral, thus exposing unknowingly to members of his family. In fact, some believe that the most important source of contamination and non-occupational exposure to asbestos today is that of contaminated materials in homes, schools and public buildings.
