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Hazards Associated With Asbestos

Asbestos is the name of a naturally occurring group of silicate minerals made up of long, thin fibers. Due to their strength and resistance to heat, electrical and chemical damage, asbestos fibers became a popular material in a wide range of products, including vehicle brake pads, fireproofing and insulation. While external exposure to asbestos is not harmful to human health, inhalation of the long fibers can cause severe health problems such as lung cancer, mesothelioma and asbestosis.

  1. Who Is At Risk?

    • Everyone is exposed to a small degree of asbestos in daily life, given that asbestos fibers are naturally occurring and that the fibers are still present in some common products. Small degrees of exposure are not of concern; rather, the concern lies with exposure to high levels of asbestos for a prolonged period of time, as the risk of developing asbestos-related diseases increases with exposure. People who work or worked in the production of asbestos, or who use or used asbestos products, are thus more likely to develop asbestos-related diseases. In addition, smoking, coupled with asbestos exposure, can increase the risk of developing such diseases. Often, it may be many years after initial exposure that the disease symptoms show. In some cases, it may take decades.

    Lung Cancer

    • According to the EPA, lung cancer causes the largest number of asbestos exposure-related deaths. People who are exposed to asbestos in their work environment or who use products containing asbestos are more likely to develop lung cancer. Common symptoms of lung cancer are coughing, shortness of breath and chest pain.

    Mesothelioma

    • A rare type of cancer, mesothelioma is found in the membrane of the heart, lungs, chest, and abdomen. According to the EPA, almost all cases of mesothelioma are linked to asbestos exposure. Like many other asbestos-related health hazards, mesothelioma may not show up until 20 to 50 years after exposure. The disease is difficult to treat, and survival beyond two years is uncommon.

    Asbestosis

    • Asbestosis is a serious, long-term term lung disease in which the lung tissue is irritated by asbestos fiber inhalation. As a result of the irritation, the lung tissue scars, and the scarring makes it difficult for the oxygen to get to the blood. The symptoms of asbestosis include shortness of breath and a dry, crackling sound in your lungs when you breathe. There is no effective treatment for asbestosis.

    Other Conditions

    • Asbestos exposure can also lead to less life-threatening ailments, such as skin warts and various conditions that damage the pleura, or the lining of the lungs. Examples of pleural conditions linked to asbestos include pneumothorax, in which air escapes from the lungs into the area between the lung and the chest cavity; pleurisy, or inflammation of the pleura; pleural effusions, a buildup of fluids in the space around the lungs, which keeps the lungs from expanding; pleural plaque, fibrous collagen tissue found on the inner surfaces of the pleura, ribcage and diaphragm as a result of pleural scarring; and pleural fibrosis, or thickening of the lung lining.

    Prevention

    • The best way to avoid developing these conditions is to limit your inhalation of asbestos. Avoid prolonged exposure to asbestos or high concentration of asbestos fibers in the air. The EPA has identified categories of products that have contained or still contain asbestos, such as roofing and flooring supplies, cement products and vehicle transmissions. If you are worried about exposure, seek advice from a pulmonologist, a doctor who specializes in lung disease.

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