El amianto en la edificación: Variedades y riesgos asociados a las labores de deconstrucción

Abstract

Asbestos is a mineral product that was widely used as a construction material in the second half of the twentieth century. The discovery of diseases caused by the inhalation of its fibres led to the establishment of regulations to protect workers and prohibit its marketing. The article describes the most important mineralogical types from the construction point of view, the main effects on health resulting from its exposure, and identifies their presence in building materials and their potential risk. It reviews the process of surveying asbestos in existing buildings, sampling and determination of the concentration of asbestos fibres. This data provides information about the degree of friability of the material and determines what action to take. It also reviews the current status of waste management of asbestos.