Mesothelioma and Hairdressers and Cosmetologists
What Is Asbestos?
Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that is fibrous in nature. Till asbestos is tightly bound in some kind of protective sheath, it is relatively harmless. However, the moment this deadly mineral is damaged and exposed, it will start releasing microscopic particles of dust into the atmosphere. This dust can lead to:• Asbestosis
• Mesothelioma
• Lung cancer
One of the biggest problems associated with asbestos-related diseases is the lag or latency period. These diseases take anywhere between 15 and 25 years to surface. So, a person likely to develop the disease in the long term will show no immediate symptoms. Whether and when you develop the disease depends on various risk factors, like longevity of exposure and the amount of exposure.
People who worked as hairdressers and cosmetologists in the late 1900s used equipment that contained asbestos as it was a famed insulating material at that time. For instance, the hood hairdryers of the 1970s used contained a lining of asbestos that helped prevent burns.
When Does Asbestos Exposure Occur?
Many busy beauty salons have hairdressers who are on the job for more than 5-6 hours at a stretch. As the piece of equipment they use gets old and worn, the lining begins to break down, thereby releasing dust containing asbestos into the air. Prolonged inhalation of this dust can lead to asbestos-related diseases.According to the general secretary of the National Hairdressers Federation, asbestos lining appears in hairdryers that was used before the Second World War. However, hairdryers that are exported from the Far East and other markets around the world may still contain asbestos insulation.
High risk of exposure is usually connected with certain occupations like shipbuilding, construction, and railroad work. But potential exposure may occur in any place that contains asbestos, like beauty salons, homes, and schools. Because asbestos was touted as a miracle substance at one time, it appears in numerous appliances that we use on a daily basis.






