4 ms·

If asbestos is enclosed, what's the point in using it? Why not just build the entire object using the material that enclosed the asbestos? Safety analysis on

• grenoire 8y ago
  Because the material itself may not have the insulating properties of asbestos itself. Additionally the material enclosing might be more expensive than asbestos too.
• throwawaymath 8y ago
  > If asbestos is enclosed, what's the point in using it? Why not just build the entire object using the material that enclosed the asbestos? Asbestos is carcinogenic because it's extremely fibrous. By enclosing asbestos you mitigate its deleterious effects on human lungs. However, you do not remove its insulation properties, which may not be shared by whatever is physically enclosing it. Simply put: all you need to prevent fibrous material from entering the lungs is a physical barrier. But a physical barrier is insufficient to provide insulation. Sandwiched asbestos provides insulation that the enclosure material cannot provide on its own.