So asbestos is super dangerous to your lungs. It’s tiny, and sharp, so your lungs can’t remove it using mucus etc as it would with other dusts/particles.
*That makes sense.*
But what about fibreglass insulation – it’s tiny little super sharp glass fibres that (in my head) aren’t much different to fibreglass.
What about fine sand, or even diatomaceous earth which is famous for its ability to kill bugs/insects BECAUSE it’s super sharp on a micro level?
^For ^the ^flair, ^not ^sure ^if ^this ^is ^a ^biology, ^physics ^or ^chemstry ^question. ^I’m ^hoping ^’bio’ ^is ^OK.
^I ^just ^finished ^insulating ^the ^loft ^with ^my ^father-in-law. ^I ^wore ^a ^respirator, ^he ^didn’t ^(too ^’proud’?) ^- ^I’m ^fine, ^just ^itchy ^skin, ^but ^he’s ^had ^a ^bad ^cough ^for ^a ^few ^days.
In: 4960
Asbestos is so dangerous because of its shape.
The fibers which are especially dangerous are also classified as WHO fibers which have a length over 5 micrometers while having a diameter below 3 micrometers and a length to diameter ratio of 3:1. These fibers will pierce and kill the macrophages, the cells protecting your body against external threats on a molecular level. This leads to an extrem reaction of your body which results in cancer.
NO, it doesn’t interact with or cut your DNA! Never!
Especially old fibreglass might have fibers which have this shape or is even mixed with asbestos. Newer fibreglass is produced in a way that avoids the formation of these fibers and is therefore safer.
Source: I work in an institute for research of occupational safety in the fiber department.
Latest Answers