Toxicology

This article discusses the potential health problems caused by asbestos exposure, particularly in schools. It analyzes a news article about asbestos found in a Melbourne primary school during renovation works. The article highlights the need for public awareness and effective management strategies to reduce asbestos exposure. The study methodology includes pulmonary function tests and chest radiographs to diagnose asbestos-related diseases. Recommendations include increasing public awareness, promoting best practices, and developing removal programs for asbestos-containing materials.

Running head: TOXICOLOGY
Toxicology
Name of the Student:
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Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................2
Summary..........................................................................................................................................2
Analysis of evidences......................................................................................................................3
Recommendation and management strategies.................................................................................4
Summary Report..............................................................................................................................4
Conclusion.......................................................................................................................................5
Reference.........................................................................................................................................6
Appendices......................................................................................................................................8
Study methodology......................................................................................................................8
Preliminary report........................................................................................................................9

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Introduction
The most common way of asbestos entering the body is by inhalation. It is a fact that
asbestos contain materials that are considered to be harmful. The asbestos fibres get trapped
inside the mucous membrane and of the throat and nose where they are then removed. However,
it is important to mention that some of the fibres move deep into the lungs and digestive tract if
they are swallowed. Once asbestos enters the body, the fibres have the potential to cause health
problems. The hazardous form of asbestos is when it is friable and it is contained in the siding
shingles, fire doors, shingles, laboratory cabinet tops and floor tiles and ceiling tops (Baumann,
F., Ambrosi and Carbone 2013). These materials will not release asbestos unless disturbed and
damaged in some way or the other. If asbestos containing ceiling and wall are broken and drilled
then it might release the fibres into the air. Due to the hard to destroy nature of asbestos, human
body is unable to remove and breakdown the asbestos fibres once it enters the body tissues or
lung tissues. They remain in the same place and they cause disease. The three diseases that are
basically caused due to asbestos are mesothelioma, lung cancer and asbestosis (Stayner, Welch
and Lemen 2013). In this study, a latest news article report will be analysed that have the
potential to cause toxicological issues upon entering the body.
Summary
During the childhood the majority of exposure to asbestos comes from the environment.
Evidences showed that during the 80s and 90s, mesothelioma was the rarest form of cancer that
was diagnosed in people. The cases were identified by the doctors and the it was diagnosed in
children and adults and even in infants. In majority of the cases mesothelioma was diagnosed
during the childhood and adulthood times. The potential sources of asbestos exposure during the
childhood time are: asbestos in modelling clay, crayons, chalk; environmental asbestos (playing

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in, breathing the air or eating food from contaminated soil); asbestos in schools; second hand
exposure from the parents that have been exposed with or work with asbestos. Schools are the
unique places because 1/6th of the population attends school. Similarly, a similar kind of incident
occurred in a school named Essendon North Primary Schools. In this school, asbestos was
discovered in a classroom during the renovation works. Thus, the tests chosen for diagnosing the
students are the pulmonary function tests and chest radiographs. The chest radiograph provides a
scarred lung tissues and appear opaque on the x-rays. However, in the advanced cases the lung
tissues appear like honeycomb structures. While the pulmonary function test provides an insight
of the reduced lung capacity due the presence of asbestos. Thus, it can be said that the asbestos
exposure is detrimental for people that can belong to any age. It is important to mention that the
children are highly susceptible in comparison to the adults.
Analysis of evidences
The education department initiated an examination after news came to the forefront that
asbestos containing materials have been found in the Essendon North Primary School. The
occupational hygienists also visited the school the same day and collected samples that proved
the presence of asbestos in the materials. The education department highlighted that the room
was cleaned properly so as to remove the samples that contained the residual asbestos wastes.
Furthermore, air monitoring was also performed. This showed that the airborne fibres of asbestos
were under the laboratory detection limits. It was also found out the Education department also
carried out an environment clean up in the areas and along with it an occupational hygienist has
also cleared the room. Furthermore, it was informed by the education department that the school
will remain close until the completion of air surveillance and final inspection (pressfrom.info
2019).

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Recommendation and management strategies
 The different community bodies and government bodies can work together to increase the
public awareness related to the danger posed by being exposed or working with the
asbestos. The divergent responsibilities and the and multiple sources can reduce the
effectivity of the communication plan and the efforts put up by these entities.
 In the recent years there has been some kind of movement in the licensing, training and
education in Australia. The plan is to compel the territories and the states to undertake
promotion of the best practice, sharing of information and encourages discussion. An
agency will be created that will have the responsibility of facilitating discussion with the
governments, territories, states and relevant stakeholders so as to achieve the relevant
outcomes. The best practice will be to handle and manage asbestos and the information
will be shared nationally (Asbestosexposureschools.co.uk 2019).
 The need to develop an effective identification of the quantity and location of the
asbestos contaminated materials in Australia. The location of the Asbestos containing
materials will be identified and recorded.
 Implementation and development of the prioritised removal program in Australia for the
purpose of planning and careful consideration with the relevant stakeholders, local
government, and state. High priority will be given to the high-risk asbestos containing
materials (Asbestosexposureschools.co.uk 2019).
Summary Report
The summary report suggest that the education department was serious enough to bring
in an independent occupational hygienist that took the samples of the materials and was also
given the task of cleaning up the contaminated school room. These evidences proved that

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asbestos was present as a potent toxicological substance that can harm the school children. Due
to this suggestion based on the effective measures and strategies of detecting asbestos in school
buildings, creation of the agencies that will be effectively working in a collaborative way for the
reduction and management of the asbestos and the asbestos containing materials. The
information collected after the investigation and monitoring programs will be shared among the
schools and the associated governmental authorities. This will be done to share awareness and
increase the effectiveness of the asbestos and asbestos containing materials management
program among the government and the schools.
Conclusion
From the above discussion it can be concluded that asbestos is designated to be a human
carcinogen and exposure to the asbestosis can result to the cause of numerous types of cancer.
Asbestos can be absorbed through ingestion, skin and inhalation; The inhaled fibres can pass
through the epithelial layers of the lungs. Intracellularly, asbestos fibres are found to be located
near the nucleus. Symptoms of exposure to asbestos at the early age are as follows: finger
clubbing, appetite loss, chest pain, persistent dry cough, tightness in your chest, shortness of
breath. Therefore, different community bodies and government bodies can work together to
increase the public awareness related to the danger posed by being exposed or working with the
asbestos.

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Reference
Asbestosexposureschools.co.uk, 2019. National Strategic Plan for Asbestos Awareness and
Management 2013-2018. [online] Asbestosexposureschools.co.uk. Available at:
http://www.asbestosexposureschools.co.uk/pdfnewslinks/Australia
%20National_Strategic_Plan_2013-2018%20Jul%2013.PDF [Accessed 21 Mar. 2019].
Baumann, F., Ambrosi, J.P. and Carbone, M., 2013. Asbestos is not just asbestos: an
unrecognised health hazard. The Lancet Oncology, 14(7), pp.576-578.
de Klerk, N. and Reid, A., 2017. Hazards of residential exposure to household asbestos. The
Lancet Public Health, 2(11), pp.e490-e491.
Gulati, M. and Redlich, C.A., 2015. Asbestosis and environmental causes of usual interstitial
pneumonia. Current opinion in pulmonary medicine, 21(2), p.193.
Kang, D., Myung, M.S., Kim, Y.K. and Kim, J.E., 2013. Systematic review of the effects of
asbestos exposure on the risk of cancer between children and adults. Annals of Occupational and
Environmental Medicine, 25(1), p.10.
Kang, D., Myung, M.S., Kim, Y.K. and Kim, J.E., 2013. Systematic review of the effects of
asbestos exposure on the risk of cancer between children and adults. Annals of Occupational and
Environmental Medicine, 25(1), p.10.
Koob, S., 2019. Asbestos found in Melbourne primary school during renovation works. [online]
The Age. Available at: https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/asbestos-found-in-
melbourne-primary-school-during-renovation-works-20190305-p51202.html [Accessed 21 Mar.
2019].

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Park, E.K., Yates, D.H. and Wilson, D., 2014. Lung function profiles among individuals with
nonmalignant asbestos-related disorders. Safety and health at work, 5(4), pp.234-237.
Prazakova, S., Thomas, P.S., Sandrini, A. and Yates, D.H., 2014. Asbestos and the lung in the
21st century: an update. The clinical respiratory journal, 8(1), pp.1-10.
pressfrom.info, 2019. Asbestos found in Melbourne primary school during renovation works.
[online] PressFrom - AU. Available at: https://pressfrom.info/au/news/australia/-110222-
asbestos-found-in-melbourne-primary-school-during-renovation-works.html [Accessed 21 Mar.
2019].
Sahai, N. and Schoonen, M.A. eds., 2018. Medical mineralogy and geochemistry (Vol. 64).
Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co KG.
Stayner, L., Welch, L.S. and Lemen, R., 2013. The worldwide pandemic of asbestos-related
diseases. Annual review of public health, 34, pp.205-216.

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Appendices
Study methodology
Issue of the article- A news article was found on “The Age” titled “Asbestos found in
Melbourne primary school during renovation works”. The news highlighted the fact that the
Asbestos was found in a primary classroom which is located in Melbourne when renovation
works was going on in one side of the building. The Education department conducted an
investigation after the concerns were raised by the Essendon North Primary School that during
construction, asbestos containing materials were found in the school corridors. The occupational
hygienist took samples from the school from the very same day that contained the asbestos.
Furthermore, air monitoring was conducted which later on showed that the asbestos detected
were below the laboratory detection limit. Environmental cleaning procedure were proceeded
with so that the remaining asbestos can be removed (Koob 2019).
The stakeholder that is identified in the issue are the students that go to school and attain
the classes. They stay inside the school premises for more than 7 hours and are the ones that will
be affected badly. The stakeholder is interested because they will be worst affected group of
individuals if the asbestos is seen in the area for a prolonged period of time (Koob 2019).
To conduct the toxicological study, there is a need to conduct two important diagnosis
test that will be able to detect any asbestos related disease. Such tests will be pulmonary function
tests and chest radiographs. The pulmonary tests will be useful in detecting the restrictive deficits
that are most commonly linked with the asbestos related disease. The pulmonary tests are also
called as the non-invasive test that will show that how the lungs will work. The tests will
measure as well as test the gas exchange, rates of flow, capacity and lung volume (Gulati and

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Redlich 2015). This information will specifically provide the healthcare provider to decide and
diagnose certain lung related disorders. The chest radiograph will be basically used to assess,
localize and find the extent to which the structural changes will be linked with the asbestos
caused chest disease (lung cancer, mesothelioma, non-malignant pleural disease, and asbestosis).
Chest radiology will be used to evaluate the chest wall, heart and lungs that might be used to
diagnose the injury, chest pain, fever, persistent cough, shortness of breath. It might also help to
diagnose and monitor the treatment for the purpose of detecting a variety of lung conditions like
the cancer (Park, Yates and Wilson 2014).
Preliminary report
Asbestos is designated to be a human carcinogen by the US Environmental Protection
Agency as well as the International Agency for Research on Cancer. It is important to note that
the exposure to the asbestosis can result to the cause of numerous types of cancer. The two most
common type of cancer that is caused due to the asbestos are lung cancer and mesothelioma.
Studies have also shown that asbestos has the potential to cause the malignant mesothelioma
(Kang et al. 2013). Mesothelioma developed from the asbestos exposure have the potential to
occur after the 35 years of first exposure. Exposure to asbestos can cause various type of cancers
and other type of diseases. There is considerable of health risk associated with the exposure to
asbestos emanating from the household asbestos products (de Klerk and Reid 2017).
ADME of asbestos- Asbestos can be absorbed through ingestion, skin and inhalation; The
inhaled fibres can pass through the epithelial layers of the lungs. Intracellularly, asbestos fibres
are found to be located near the nucleus. While during the oral exposure, the asbestos fibres are
found to be detected in the blood and lymph. The asbestos fibres are found to be staying in the
lungs, as they amphibole fibres do not undergo any major type of change. The chrysotile fibres

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undergo alteration and breakdown in the lung. The long fibres can also reside in the lungs and
can form asbestos bodies. In oral exposure, the chrysotile fibres undergo some kind of metal ion
exchange and the alternation are noticed in the structure of the biological fluids. Excretion and
elimination- Asbestos is transferred by blood and eventually through the kidney and finally
through the urine. However, it is important to note that some of the fibres cannot be cleared from
lungs and it led to the gradual accumulation with time (Sahai and Schoonen 2018).
The symptoms of exposure to asbestos at the early age are as follows: finger clubbing,
appetite loss, chest pain, persistent dry cough, tightness in your chest, shortness of breath. These
symptoms occur to anyone that occur at the age group of 10 to 40. Whereas, it is important to
note that the long term of asbestos can lead to the malignant mesothelioma. It is a severe form of
lung cancer. However, it is important to mention that the symptoms can significantly affect the
health of the students and the children that are go to school and are staying for 6 to 7 hours at the
school. Long term exposure can lead to the asbestos toxicity (Prazakova, Thomas, Sandrini and
Yates 2014).
The issues that the stakeholders (children) must be concerned about is the long term and
the short-term exposure to the asbestos. The long-term exposure can potentially cause
mesothelioma and on the long-term exposure it can cause symptoms like malignant
mesothelioma. Therefore, the children must be concerned about the effects emanating from the
long-term exposure of the asbestos. While on the other hand the short-term exposure can also
cause issues like the shortness of breath and chest pain (Kang et al. 2013).