A steam pipe explosion in New York City has sparked fears of asbestos contamination — here's why that's concerning

pulse

July 19, 2018 7:26 PM

On Thursday, a steam pipe exploded on 5th Avenue in New York City, spewing muck, steam, and asphalt into the air. The incident also generated fears of asbestos contamination.

A steam pipe explosion in New York City sent muck, steam, and asphalt into the air.
Electric company ConEd is testing for
Asbestos is a fibrous, mineral-based building material that is toxic to humans when inhaled. It is linked to lung

On Thursday, a steam pipe exploded on 5th Avenue in New York City, spewing muck, steam, and asphalt into the air. The incident also generated fears of asbestos contamination.

ConEd said in a statement on Twitter.

The fire department confirmed the possibility of asbestos being released in the explosion. "We're operating with an abundance of caution since this steam main was installed in 1932, so there is possibly a presence of asbestos. Samples have been taken and we're awaiting the lab results. We are operating as though those samples will come back positive," FDNY CommissionerDaniel A. Nigro said in a statement on Facebook.

Why Asbestos is dangerous

Mined in different white, blue, brown and green shades, asbestos is a naturally-occurring silicate mineral that is composed of long, thin crystals, which can kind of look like a fibrous blanket.

from asbestos can be toxic when we inhale it, and loose asbestos fibers should be avoided.

In the late 1800s, people began noticing that asbestos miners in the UK were dying off at alarming rates, a first warning sign that inhaling the dust from asbestos could be deadly dangerous.

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