What Are the Dangers of Asbestos Exposure?

The dangers of asbestos have been recognized for centuries, possibly as long ago as Roman times when it was reported that slaves who worked with asbestos were always ill or died young. Today, although we are more aware of the dangers of asbestos, exposure still happens in certain industries or in residential or commercial areas that have not been properly retrofitted. Asbestos can cause serious health risks and care should be taken to avoid exposure to asbestos.

Exposure

• Asbestos can be found in old buildings that have not been retrofitted and in automobile brakes imported from countries that do not ban asbestos. Although the asbestos bans and mandated warnings in the United States have decreased the risk of asbestos exposure, exposure still does occur. One specific recent incident was the collapse of the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. Many individuals involved in rescue, recovery or clean-up efforts were exposed to asbestos and have begun to develop asbestos-related diseases.

Dangers

• There are 3 major health problems associated with asbestos exposure. These three health problems are asbestosis, mesothelioma (a type of cancer specifically related to asbestos exposure) and lung cancer. Contrary to a popular myth, exposure does not cause immediate health problems, such as headaches or muscle aches. Asbestos related illnesses may develop years after the initial exposure.

Asbestosis

• Asbestosis is a lung condition that affects those who inhale asbestos fibers. Because asbestos fibers are thin, microscopic fibers, they are typically not filtered through the nose when people breath and are thus able to penetrate and lodge in the lungs. Once in the lungs, the asbestos fibers can cause fibrosis (scarring) which can lead to tumors and the development of lung cancer or mesothelioma if left untreated.

  Symptoms of absbestosis may take between 10 and 40 years to develop after exposure to asbestos fibers. Symptoms include difficulty breathing, shortness of breath (initially after exertion but, as the disease develops, at other times as well) a persistent dry cough, chest pain or tightness and loss of appetite. In the late stages of the disease, patients may also experience curving of the fingernails and thickening of the fingers.

  Asbestosis may be diagnosed by chest x-rays, CT scans or MRIs, but an open lung biopsy may be necessary to make an accurate diagnosis. This involves the scraping of lung tissue during surgery to test for asbestosis or mesothelioma.

  There is no cure for asbestosis.

Mesothelioma

• Mesothelioma refers to cancer caused by the inhalation of asbestos fibers. The cancer lodges in the mesothelium, the protective membrane that covers the lungs (and other body parts as well). Mesothelioma can take between 20 and 50 years to develop, although those exposed to asbestos on September 11 have begun to develop mesothelioma, which suggests that inhaling high concentrations of asbestos fibers can cause the cancer to develop much more rapidly.

  Mesothelioma makes breathing difficult, and patients may need to be given oxygen in order to breath. Often, patients may also experience a cough, chest pain, back pain, fever, and difficulty sleeping. Because mesothelioma also affects the stomach, patients may also experience vomiting, nausea or loss of appetite.

  Approximately 2,000 to 3,000 patients are diagnosed with mesothelioma annually. There is no cure for mesothelioma, although some patients undergo surgery, including removal of the infected lung or chemotherapy to extend or improve quality of life. Because mesothelioma is not generally diagnosed until the cancer has advanced, metastasis is common.

Lung Cancer

• Asbestos exposure can also cause lung cancer. It is reported that approximately 3,400 to 8,500 lung cancer cases are caused by asbestos exposure annually. One out of 7 patients who are diagnosed with asbestosis will eventually be diagnosed with lung cancer as the disease progresses. Like mesothelioma, there may be a long period of time between the exposure to the asbestos and the development of cancer.