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What Are the Effects of Exposure to Asbestos?

The effects of asbestos on the body can be life-threatening. Three of the major problems that may result from exposure to asbestos are asbestosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma.

  1. Asbestosis

    • Asbestosis is not a cancer but rather a dangerous, long-term disease of the lungs. It can be a direct result of inhaling asbestos fibers, which irritates and inflames lung tissues. The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) calculates that the latency period for the beginning of asbestosis is generally 10-20 years after the first exposure. Once a person develops asbestosis, symptoms include difficulty breathing and a dry, crackling sound in the lungs when inhaling. These symptoms can be disabling and potentially fatal. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), there is no effective treatment for asbestosis.

    Lung Cancer

    • Lung cancer related to asbestos exposure invades and obstructs the lung's air passages. Although the disease develops slowly, once it occurs, cancer cells can break away and spread to other parts of the body. Common symptoms include coughing, wheezing, labored breathing, shortness of breath, coughing up blood, persistent chest pains, hoarseness, weight loss and anemia.

    Mesothelioma

    • Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer found in the lining of the lung, chest, abdomen and heart. Almost all cases of mesothelioma are a result of breathing in asbestos fibers or being exposed to asbestos dust.This disease may not show up until many years after asbestos exposure. This is why great efforts are being made to prevent schoolchildren from being exposed.

      According to the ATSDR, mesothelioma can have a latency period of 20 to 50 years after initial exposure to asbestos, making a diagnosis in the early stages extremely difficult. Once symptoms begin to appear, the cancer has already reached its advanced stages.

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