What is a primary concern when asbestos fibers are disturbed?

When asbestos fibers are disturbed, the primary concern is that they can become airborne and pose serious health risks. This is due to the nature of asbestos, which is a group of six naturally occurring silicate minerals. Asbestos fibers are extremely small and can be inhaled into the lungs, leading to severe health issues such as asbestosis, lung cancer, and mesothelioma. The airborne fibers are particularly dangerous because they can be inhaled without a person even being aware that they are present, leading to long-term exposure and associated health problems.

While other concerns such as aesthetic damage or the potential for difficulty in handling materials exist, they do not present the same immediate and lethal health risks associated with airborne exposure to asbestos fibers. The release of toxic gases is not a primary issue because asbestos itself does not emit gases when disturbed; instead, it is the physical disturbance of the asbestos-containing materials that releases the harmful fibers into the air. Therefore, the primary focus in asbestos safety is on preventing the release of these fibers to protect human health.