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.
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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
Fine sand is often composed of silica dioxide. If the micron size of the fibers is small enough ( 6-8 as I recall but it has been a while since I needed the dimensions), they too lodge in the lungs.
Silica /fine sand causes silicosis which will essentially stiffen your lungs so they can’t expand and exchange oxygen
Asbestos can generally cause asbestosis which form plaques on your lung and diaphragm pleura. Asbestos can go on to trigger cancer, usually either non-small cell carcinoma lung cancer or mesothelioma. Meso is most common in the lungs, but also can occur in the abdomen ( peritoneal) and the testes. Testicular meso’ can be cured by amputation.
Other substances that you inhale can cause mechanical damage- flour can cause something called baker’s lung.
To answer OP’s question abut flair, this is either medicine or metallurgy or industrial hygiene.
Source, I have been in Occ’ Disease business for a long time.
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