JPG Magazine: Photos: "Asbestos Waste" by Gary Fudge

Asbestos Waste

By Gary Fudge

On 14 March 2008

Favorited 79 Times

This photo is hot! Share it!

Until 1972, most of the buildings in this country were constructed with asbestos, including schools, offices and homes. At the time, no one had any idea that when inhaled asbestos was deadly. Today, people and asbestos precariously coexist in old buildings. However, it is only when asbestos is disturbed that it becomes a health threat to human beings.

There are three diseases that are triggered by inhaling asbestos fibers: asbestosis, mesothelioma, and lung cancer. Asbestosis is caused when asbestos fibers are inhaled and become trapped in the lungs. In response, the body tries to dissolve the fibers by producing an acid. While not destroying the fibers, the acid serves to scar the lung tissue. Eventually the scarring can become so severe that the lungs become unable to function. The time from exposure to the manifestation of asbestosis in most patients is between 25 to 40 years. Mesothelioma is a cancer of the outside tissue of the lungs. This cancer is solely linked to asbestos. The time from exposure to manifestation of mesothelioma is from 15 to 35 years. Cancer of the lungs can also be caused by exposure to asbestos. However, the chances of developing lung cancer from asbestos are greatly increased with smoking. The exposure to manifestation period for lung cancer from asbestos exposure is from 15 to 35 years.

Cross Processed Konica film

37 Responses

On 14 March 2008 Laura Boston-Thek gave props:
Seriously interesting!
On 14 March 2008 Adrian Rodriguez gave props:
Awesome........You Have my Vote
On 14 March 2008 Charlie Howe gave props:
What can words do to describe something so beautiful and yet scary. The image works on all levels. Great work.
On 15 March 2008 jan cain gave props:
wow. great image.
On 15 March 2008 Nelson Campbell gave props:
Excellent entry all around. My vote.
On 15 March 2008 adniloj said:
My vote goes here! My highschool was closed due to the asbestos problems throughout the building & as students we where sent to the "across town" highschool. That was several years ago, and I have no clue as to what that type of exposure may have done to my own personal health. Similar to changes seen in the use of DDT, one has to wonder what are we using today (approved) that may be found dangerous in years to come. Tx for the narrative Gary!
On 16 March 2008 Nisa' Haron said:
brilliant!
On 16 March 2008 cody blakeman gave props:
love this shot and amazing texture
On 17 March 2008 melanie scott gave props:
A very powerful image and an informative write-up. This topic has special meaning for me because my father passed away from mesothelioma 10 years ago at age 50. He worked in a tobacco curing plant when he was a teenager for a few summers and handled containers that were insulated with asbestos. Mesothelioma is one of the most aggressive forms of cancer and he passed away only 3 weeks after being diagnosed. Thank you for this informative and powerful image.
On 17 March 2008 Glorija Lizde said:
i saw this picture about 12 hours ago, and thought how powerful it is and the next thing i see, the man who took this picture leaves me a comment :D anyway, from a thumbnail i thought it was a piano. really deep message this photo has
On 18 March 2008 Yasmina Baggili gave props:
Got my vote! Amazing pic!
On 18 March 2008 Rachel McKinnie gave props:
Congrats...I think we'll see this published. One of the best in the theme yet.
On 19 March 2008 Paul Lavallee gave props:
beautifully shot & very fitting of the theme
On 19 March 2008 glindaraye said:
very cool interior landscape.
On 20 March 2008 maria tizon gave props:
Excellent shot, fantastic composition, Nice work.
On 22 March 2008 John E. May gave props:
Excellent Vision! Stunning Image!
On 24 March 2008 Mario Scattoloni gave props:
Ditto to all the above... great stuff.
On 25 March 2008 Suzy Godfrey said:
Great shot for this theme!
On 26 March 2008 "Deividz" Martin said:
very good shot! a yeah for u !! ;)
On 26 March 2008 Steve Hogle gave props:
Wow... winner by far!
On 28 March 2008 "Peggy.Sue" Harrington said:
definitely winner. superb shot and story. moves me a great deal emotionally.
On 30 March 2008 Fraser Ross gave props:
If you try to get rid of that stuff they come dressed like x files. One of our not so clever creations was asbestos.
On 30 March 2008 Fraser Ross gave props:
If you try to get rid of that stuff they come dressed like x files. One of our not so clever creations was asbestos.
On 1 April 2008 Chicago Love gave props:
ummm I don't understand why you were so close to this thing!!! They won't allow it here I think even if it's not stirred I think they just tear it down. My v of course.
On 2 April 2008 Mandolin Davis gave props:
yeah how did u get so close?? this is an amazing image.
On 3 April 2008 Joe Lowe gave props:
great angle and perspective
On 3 April 2008 Katrina Morlen gave props:
One word: Awesome. I love the strange lighting, the emptiness, and every element of human vandalism.Great photo, you have my vote. :)
On 3 April 2008 Laura Pardo said:
powerful capture and intense colors! good job! you got my vote :)
On 6 April 2008 Joshua Blankman gave props:
Stunning capture! The intense lighting and colours help make this photographic statement very powerful!
On 9 April 2008 sMaSh13 gave props:
Awesome shot and story
On 12 April 2008 Elif Neslihan Özmen said:
Perfect tones! This is very impressive.
On 14 April 2008 marshall gave props:
nice composition, well-chosen lens, crumpled can at the bottom plays off the linear stuff that's happening at ceiling level. nice work.
On 14 April 2008 Nick Merzetti said:
I hope you had some serious protection for you lungs man!
On 20 April 2008 Ashley Lebedev said:
What do you mean, you don't have the eye. This is absolutely brilliant. Shot from a fantastic vantage, and covering a brave topic. Favorite. :)
Best to you
ash
On 27 April 2008 anna garcia said:
fantastik shot! Angle,Comp., perfection~
On 9 May 2008 Christofer Glass gave props:
so interesting shot... in all senses.
On 25 May 2008 Robert Allan said:
I love it!