Asbestos News

Most fire dangers are obvious but there is one threat that flames pose that is not so clear: asbestos exposure.

Such an issue was recently dealt with by residents in the UK who live by an old mill that burned down. This is Lancashire reports that it is suspected that the blaze was the result of arson.

Fire not only disturbs asbestos but it can spread the deadly mineral fibers far through the air. The inhalation of these fibers has a number of serious health consequences including the development of lung cancer, asbestosis and malignant mesothelioma, a rare cancer that attacks the thin membrane that lines the chest, abdomen and many of the body's internal organs.

Fire watch commander Phil Courtnell said that the personnel on the scene took precautions to ensure that they did not come in contact with the naturally occurring mineral, which was once used as an insulator and flame retardant.

"Because asbestos was involved, officers wore dust masks and breathing apparatus," he told the news source. "Police went to local houses to ask residents to stay indoors and shut their windows as a precaution."