The World Health Organization has been considering whether or not to change their stance on a form of asbestos commonly used by developing countries.
Chrysotile asbestos has been banned by the EU and a majority of developed countries because, when inhaled, asbestos fibers can become stuck in the lungs and cause scarring.
However efforts by a number of asbestos exporting countries, including Canada may cause the WHO to leave the use of asbestos to be determined by national agencies, thus continuing the cycle of death plaguing developing nations.
Asbestos has long been viewed by the general public as a way for lawyers to get rich and environmentalists to gain media coverage.
But the real dangers of asbestos aren't very well understood.
Basically when you inhale asbestos fibers, most of them will be expelled by your lungs. Remaining fibers will then be attacked by white blood cells that try to "kill" them through phagocytosis (bascially trying to swallow them whole).
However your cells are not large enough to engulf asbestos fibers and burst. The contents of the bursted cell scar the areas around it which given enough exposure, could lead to lung problems later on even if you don't develop a serious disease directly related to asbestos.
