PHYSICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES

MINING and ASBESTOS EXPOSURE

Mining• The extraction of valuable minerals or other

geological materials from the earth from an orebody, lode, vein, seam, or reef, which forms the mineralized package of economic interest to the miner.

• Ores recovered by mining include metals, coal and oil shale, gemstones, limestone, and dimension stone, rock salt and potash, gravel, and clay.

Pros of Mining• it brings in large amount of profits for the companies

doing the mining. It also provides employment for people who are unemployed in the mining regions.

• Mining for gold, coal and other ores are valuable because they are useful in manufacturing useful consumer products.

• The country will also benefit from the taxes being paid by the companies conducting the mining excavations.

Cons of Mining• Deforestation

• Pollution

• environmental degradation

• soil erosion

• destruction of natural habitats for wild animals

Asbestos Exposure

What is Asbestos?

Asbestos is a group of minerals with thin microscopic fibers. These fibers are resistant to heat, fire, and chemicals and do not conduct electricity, asbestos has been mined and used widely in the construction, automotive, and other industries.

When does Asbestos Become a Health Issue?

• If asbestos itself and products containing asbestos are disturbed, the tiny fibers are released into the air. When they are breathed in, they can become trapped in the lungs and stay there for many years. Over time these fibers can accumulate and lead to serious health problems.

The problem includes:

• AsbestosisAn inflammatory condition of the lungs.

• Mesotheliomaa rare cancer that affects the lining of the lungs, chest cavity, or abdomen

• Pleural PlaquesPleural plaques occur

when fibrosis is localized in a specific region of the lung. Plaques are a distinctive feature of asbestos exposure that cause functional impairment.

• Bronchogenic lung cancer

Bronchogenic lung cancer is brought about through interstitial pulmonary fibrosis, which then becomes malignant when the body’s autoimmune defenses break down .

Pathways of Asbestos

• Exposure to asbestos fibers occurs through ingestion, skin contact and inhalation.

How can exposure to asbestos be reduced?

• Safety and Health Administration should enforce regulations related to mine safety. Workers should use all protective equipment provided by their employers and follow recommended workplace practices and safety procedures. For example, -approved respirators that fit properly should be worn by workers when required.