The Risks of Asbestos Exposure
Asbestos poses no risk unless the microscopic fibers become airborne. Those who are at highest risk are those who work with asbestos, smokers, and those who have lung diseases that are pre-existing.
Secondhand exposure can occur when workers bring home asbestos particles on their shoes, clothing and hair or through launderers washing work clothes that have been contaminated. This type of exposure may also affect family members.
Symptoms
When asbestos is broken up or is disturbed, it releases tiny fibers into the air. These can be inhaled by people who are near. Once inhaled these fibers can irritate the lung tissue and get stuck in the lungs. This can lead to scarring of the lungs, a condition known as asbestosis. It can also make it difficult for carbon dioxide and oxygen to pass in and out of the lungs. This can lead to serious and life-threatening issues, such as asbestosis and lung cancer.
Asbestosis usually occurs after prolonged, prolonged exposure. The most commonly reported symptoms of asbestosis are difficulty breathing. Other signs include coughing, chest pain and a bluish tint on the skin due to a lack of oxygen. Mesothelioma is a cancer that can affect the linings of chest cavity, lungs and the abdominal cavity. Mesothelioma is usually fatal and is usually diagnosed after 30-40 years of asbestos exposure.
Anyone who has been exposed to asbestos should see their doctor for a physical exam. Based on the person's employment history and other factors, the doctor will determine whether additional tests are needed. This could include chest X-rays as well as a CT scan, or a lung function test.
A chest CT scan can reveal changes in the lungs caused with asbestos exposure, however these changes may not be noticeable to the patient. They can, however, be detected by doctors who specialize in asbestos-related diseases.
The symptoms of lung disease due to asbestos exposure can take a long time to develop, so many people don't know they are affected until it is too late. Other symptoms of asbestos exposure, in addition to lung fibrosis, include shortness of breathe and chest pain, abdomen, persistent cough, weight loss, and fever.
People who have been exposed to the virus should get a flu vaccine and pneumonia vaccination. This will help prevent respiratory infections that can cause their health issues. It is also important to wash their hands frequently to decrease the chance of getting a respiratory infection. They should be part of support groups for those suffering from asbestos-related diseases.
Treatment
Asbestos can cause a variety of health issues. The severity of these problems depends on the type of asbestos and how long a person was exposed to it. It can trigger respiratory diseases such as asbestosis and Pleural effusions. It can also cause mesothelioma - a rare cancer that affects the linings of the chest and abdomen. It can also cause cancers of the gastrointestinal system and kidneys.
Your medical team will suggest treatment options to treat symptoms and prevent complications, if you've been diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease. These treatments may include medications and procedures like occupational therapists, pulmonary rehabilitation and lung transplants. You can also join support groups to discuss your health issues.
People who have been exposed to asbestos over many years are at risk of developing a variety of health conditions, including mesothelioma, lung cancer, and asbestosis. Smokers are at a higher risk of developing asbestos-related illnesses, since smoking cigarettes can cause irritation to lungs. The symptoms of these health problems can take between 10 and 20 years to manifest, which is known as the latency.
The first signs of asbestos exposure are often chest pain and breathlessness. These are a result of the scarring that harms the lungs and makes it hard to breathe. As the condition progresses, symptoms may worsen and a person may experience breathlessness even when they are at in a relaxed state. They might also experience symptoms of fatigue, fever or weight loss.
There is no cure for asbestosis, but certain treatments can help ease the symptoms and improve the quality of life. Doctors may prescribe aerosol medicine to thin lung fluids, and those suffering from severe symptoms may receive oxygen through the nose through a tube.
Having regular blood tests and X-rays can aid in monitoring the disease and help identify any possible complications. A healthy diet and exercise can keep a person in good health. Stress can exacerbate symptoms, so it is important to avoid stress.
Diagnosis
The most commonly reported symptom of asbestos exposure is difficulty in breathing. The reason is that asbestos fibers which are microscopic can remain in the lungs for years after exposure. The lungs aren't designed to get rid of these foreign materials, so they become inflamed and scarred over time. This condition is referred to as asbestosis, or pulmonary fibrous. It could take up to 40 years for someone to develop symptoms of asbestos poisoning. This is one of the reasons asbestos exposure can go unnoticed for many years, even by people who were exposed to it on a regular basis.
When asbestos is released into the air, tiny fibers are able to be inhaled. Most of these will be swept away or coughed up in a layer of mucus. However, some will go through this process and become lodged in the lung. This could lead to several conditions that affect lung function. These include lung cancer and mesothelioma, a fatal cancer that attacks the lining of internal organs also known as the mesothelium.
Lung cancer caused by asbestos exposure can be difficult to identify in its early stages because it often mimics other ailments, including chronic coughing, weight loss and chest pain. Additionally, the chance of lung cancer increases the more someone is exposed to asbestos and other carcinogens such as cigarette smoke.
Asbestosis usually develops several years after exposure. It is diagnosed by an examination by a doctor, a work history, chest xrays or CT scans, and blood tests for lung enzymes. Asthmatics may be at a higher-risk of developing asbestosis.
The most serious asbestos-related illness is mesothelioma. It is a cancer that develops in the lung linings as well as internal organs. It can also develop in the larynx or ovaries. People who have exposure to asbestos are at increased risk for this type of cancer, along with other forms of mesothelioma, which attack the stomach lining and intestines. Mesothelioma typically takes a long time to develop, which is why it is important for those with had a history of asbestos exposure to have regular health examinations.
Prevention
Many houses and buildings built prior to 1970 still have asbestos pipes or floor tiles. In general, these materials are safe as long as they remain unaffected. They pose dangerous to health when they are damaged or deteriorated. This is because they release tiny asbestos fibres into the air, which could be inhaled or ingested. The health risks are high and it is essential to have asbestos-containing substances that could be inspected or tested by experts.
Asbestos fibers are only able to cause disease if they are inhaled or consumed and later lodged in the lung tissue. This can cause diseases such as mesothelioma, lung cancer or asbestosis (scarring of the lung). The signs of these illnesses typically don't show up until several years after exposure.
Asbestos-related illnesses are mostly caused by occupational exposure. Asbestos exposure is common in a variety of occupations, including insulation contractors, construction workers, asbestos abatement workers and maintenance and custodial workers. Workers are still exposed to asbestos even though they are wearing personal protective equipment and have been properly trained.
The symptoms of asbestos-related illnesses can appear between 15 and fifty years after exposure. This is referred to as the latency period.
In addition to occupational exposure, it's also possible for individuals to be exposed via the water system through drinking water that is contaminated with asbestos due to erosion of natural land sources or as a result of mill tailings from mining or mines that have been discarded or the disintegration of asbestos cement pipes carried by rainwater. Ingestion may also occur accidentally due to the consumption of food that is contaminated such as clams or other seafood that has been washed in the contaminated asbestosis settlement amounts water.
The greatest asbestos danger is to those engaged in the demolition or repair of structures that could contain asbestos, as well as those who work with hazardous waste. The most at-risk are those who worked after the September 11 attacks on New York City, and those who are involved in rescue cleanup, recovery, or cleanup efforts. It is recommended that these individuals wear protective clothing for their entire body and use a high quality face mask when working with asbestos. People who work with asbestos should also be provided with adequate ventilation.