Asbestos Information

What Is Asbestos?

 Asbestos is the generic term for a number of fibrous silicate minerals. Products made from asbestos cement - a bonded asbestos material - include cement flat and profiled cladding, guttering and downpipes, as well as water pipes for drainage or flues, corrugated roofing sheets, roofing shingles and guttering. 

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Asbestos-containing materials were used in building products in the domestic building industry between the 1940s and late 1980s. They were widely used in commercial and industrial settings as early as the late 1800s.

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Before the health risks were known, asbestos products were widely used because they were durable, fire-resistant and had good insulation properties.

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The manufacturing and use of asbestos products were banned in New Zealand in October 2016. This ban applies to the manufacture, supply, storage, sale, use, reuse, installation and replacement of asbestos.  

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Asbestos Exposure Health Impacts

Asbestos becomes a potential risk to health if fibres become airborne and are breathed into the lungs. Whether a person goes on to develop an asbestos-related disease depends on a range of circumstances or exposure factors; for example, the level and duration of exposure, length of time since first exposure, the fibre type and concurrent exposure to tobacco smoke and other carcinogens.

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Suppose the work area is not properly set up to contain asbestos effectively. In that case, there is a risk of releasing fibres into the air, which may impact the health and well-being of people, workplaces and residences nearby.

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Four Major Asbestos-Related Diseases

• Plural Plaques

• Asbestosis

• Lung Cancer

• Mesothelioma

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