The Risks of Asbestos Exposure
Asbestos is not a risk unless the tiny fibers are airborne. The most at risk are those who work with asbestos, smokers, and those who have pre-existing lung conditions.
Second-hand exposure can result from workers bringing asbestos particles home in their footwear, clothing or hair, or laundering facilities that wash their clothes with asbestos. Family members can also be affected by this kind of exposure.
Symptoms
When asbestos is broken up or is disturbed, it releases tiny fibers into the air. These can be inhaled by people nearby. Once inhaled the fibers could become stuck in the lungs, causing irritation to the lung tissue. This can cause scarring of the lungs, called asbestosis. It can make it difficult for carbon dioxide and oxygen to pass in and out of the lungs. This could lead to serious and life-threatening problems, such as lung cancer and asbestosis.
Asbestosis is usually the result of prolonged exposure to asbestos. The most frequent symptoms is difficulty breathing. Other symptoms include chest pain, coughing and a bluish tint on the skin due a lack of oxygen. Mesothelioma, a cancer of the lung's lining and chest cavity (pleura) or the abdominal cavity's lining (peritoneum), can occur in asbestos-exposed individuals. Mesothelioma is usually diagnosed after 30 to 40 years of exposure. It is usually fatal.
People who have been exposed to asbestos should consult their doctor for a medical exam. A doctor will decide whether additional tests are required based on the patient's work background, as well as other factors. This could include chest X-rays, CT scans or lung function tests.
These changes might not be apparent to the patient, but can be observed through X-rays and chest CT scans. These changes can be identified by doctors who are experts in asbestos-related illnesses.
As the symptoms of lung disease triggered by asbestos exposure may develop over a long period of time and many people don't realize that they've been affected until it's too late. Other symptoms of asbestos exposure along with lung fibrosis include breathlessness or chest pain and abdomen, persistent cough weight loss, and fever.
People who have been exposed to the flu should receive a flu vaccine and a pneumonia vaccination. This can help to prevent respiratory infections which can make their health worse. They should also wash hands often to decrease the risk of getting an infection. They should be part of an organization that helps those with asbestos-related illnesses.
Treatment
Asbestos can trigger a variety of health problems. The severity of health problems is dependent on how long and what type of asbestos the person has been exposed to. It can trigger respiratory diseases like asbestosis and the development of pleural effusions. It may also lead to mesothelioma, a rare cancer of the lining of the chest and abdomen. It can also cause cancers of the gastrointestinal system and kidneys.
If you've been diagnosed with an asbestos-related illness the medical team will recommend treatments to manage symptoms and prevent complications. These may include medicines and procedures such as pulmonary rehabilitation, occupational therapy and lung transplantation. You can also join support groups to discuss your issues.
People who have been exposed for a long time to asbestos are at the risk of developing mesothelioma as well as lung cancer. Smokers are particularly at risk of developing asbestos-related illnesses because smoking cigarettes can cause irritation to the lungs. The symptoms of these health problems may take between 10 and 20 years to manifest, which is called the latency period.
The initial signs of asbestos exposure include chest pain and breathlessness. The lungs are scarred and can result in breathing problems. As the disease progresses symptoms can become more severe. The patient may become breathless when at rest. They might also experience fatigue, fever and weight loss.
There is no cure for asbestosis, but some treatments can ease the symptoms and improve the quality of life. Doctors may prescribe aerosol medicines to thin lung fluids, and a person who has severe symptoms may receive oxygen via the nose through a tube.
Regular blood tests and X rays can be used to monitor the disease, and identify any potential complications. It is important to have a good diet and exercise to keep one healthy. It is also important to avoid stress in order to avoid making the symptoms worse.
Diagnosis
The most commonly reported symptoms of asbestos exposure are difficulty breathing. The reason for this is because asbestos fibers are microscopic and remain in the lungs even years after exposure. Because the lungs were not designed to remove foreign substances, they became irritated over time. This condition is known as asbestosis, or pulmonary fibroids. It could take up to 40 years for someone to experience symptoms of asbestos poisoning. This is why exposure to asbestos can go unnoticed by those who work with it regularly.
When asbestos is released into the air, tiny fibers can be breathed in. The majority of them will be swept away or sucked up in mucus, however some will bypass this system and become lodged in the lungs. This can result in a variety of ailments that affect lung function. This includes lung cancer as well as mesothelioma - a deadly cancer that attacks organ linings called the mesothelium.
In its early stages lung cancer caused by asbestos can be difficult to recognize because it can mimic other diseases, like chronic coughing, chest pain, and weight loss. In addition, the risk of developing lung cancer increases the more a person is exposed to asbestos and other carcinogens, like cigarette smoke.
Asbestosis is usually diagnosed several years after exposure. It is detected through an examination of the medical history, chest x-rays or CT scans, and blood tests for lung enzymes. Asthmatics are at a higher-risk of developing asbestosis.
The most severe asbestos-related disease is mesothelioma, which forms in the lining of the lungs and other internal organs. It can also be found in the larynx or ovaries. People who have exposure to asbestos are at a higher risk of developing this type of cancer along with other forms of mesothelioma, which target the stomach lining and the intestines. Mesothelioma typically takes a long time to develop, which is why it is essential for those who have an asbestos-related history to have routine health exams.
Prevention
Many buildings and homes built before 1970 contain components such as asbestos pipes or floor tiles that remain in good condition. As long as these materials are not damaged, they do not pose a health risk. When they are damaged or degraded, they pose a health risk by releasing tiny asbestos fibers into the air that could be inhaled or consumed. The health risks are extremely high and it is important to have asbestos materials that are suspected of being to be inspected and tested or removed by experts.
Asbestos fibers are only able to cause a health issue when inhaled or ingested, and then lodged in the lung tissue. This can result in a variety of diseases such as mesothelioma, lung cancer or asbestosis (scarring of the lung). The symptoms of these diseases are usually not evident until years after initial exposure.
Asbestos-related diseases are primarily caused by occupational exposure. Asbestos exposure can be found in a variety of jobs, including mine workers, insulation contractors, construction workers, asbestos abatement and custodial and maintenance workers. Workers are still exposed to asbestos even if they are wearing personal protective equipment and are properly trained.
Contrary to other poisons that typically have immediate effects, the symptoms of asbestos-related diseases can take between 15 to 50 years to manifest after exposure. This is called the latency period.
In addition to occupational exposure, it's also possible for individuals to be exposed through the water pathway through drinking water that is contaminated with asbestos due to erosion of natural land resources, or as a result of mill tailings or mining wastes that are discarded or disintegration of asbestos cement pipes carried by rainwater. Ingestion can also occur through accidental consumption of food items that are contaminated, such as clams and other seafood, which were washed down by contaminated water.
Today, the most significant asbestos hazard is to workers who are involved in the demolition or repair of structures that contain it and to those who work with waste that is contaminated. The most vulnerable are those who were employed following the September 11 attacks on New York City, exposure to asbestos lawsuit and those involved in rescue cleanup, recovery, or cleanup efforts. It is recommended that these individuals wear full-body protective clothing and wear a top quality face mask when working with asbestos. It is essential that those who work with asbestos have adequate ventilation.