Asbestos in Metal Mesh Blankets
Metal mesh blankets, or wire cloth, is used in a multitude of industries and professions but if it was manufactured before 1980, may contain
asbestos.
Wire cloth is used for architectural design and framework. It is used to protect buildings' foundations and helps to insulate attics and ceilings from airflow and moisture damage. Metal mesh blankets themselves are widely used in welding and other building-related industries.
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Metal mesh blankets are also used on exhausts, turbochargers and other heat generating elements of boats, ships, trucks, power generators, etc. They can be used for heat treating, brazing, plating, washing, drying, degreasing and more. Although metal mesh blankets were made to protect, if they contain asbestos they cause more harm than good. Asbestos can kill.
Asbestos is a mineral that can be broken down into very fine fibers that are heat resistant and extremely durable. Because of these properties, and because it was cheap to manufacture, it was widely used in thousands of products for many years before it was discovered that exposure to asbestos often leads to health risks and diseases.
Health Issues Associated with Asbestos Include:
* Scarring of lung tissue; also called asbestosis
* Lung cancer
* Stomach cancer
* Colon cancer
* Rectal cancer
* Vocal chord cancer
* Kidney cancer
* Mesothelioma
If you have a history of asbestos exposure you should know that smoking can increase your risk factors. If you work with metal mesh blankets that were manufactured before 1980 and are concerned that you may have been exposed to asbestos, you should consult with a medical professional.
Asbestos exposure can cause serious diseases, including mesothelioma and asbestos lung cancer. If you breathe asbestos fibers into your lungs, some of the fibers can be deposited in your air passages and into your lungs, at times causing severe respiratory damage.
Fibers that clear the lungs are carried away in a layer of mucus to the throat, where they can be swallowed into the stomach. They can become stuck in the membranes lining the stomach or intestines, and can be distributed throughout the body via the blood. Wherever the fibers are, you should know that they are dangerous enough to cause cancer.