What Can Asbestos Do To You?
Posted August 11, 2008 12:00 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
When the smoke had cleared and the glass had been swept up, the health concerns still weren’t over for anxious residents near the site of Sunday’s explosion.
Reports of asbestos in the air, left either by the demolished homes or the destroyed propane facility itself, raised questions about the air quality in the area.
Many evacuees still couldn’t return for fear their health would be compromised.
Here’s a look at why the compound is so dangerous.
What is it?
Asbestos is a mineral that’s found naturally in the environment. The fibrous silicate minerals are mined because they are strong and resistant to heat, making them useful in a wide variety of applications. Asbestos fibres are used in thermal insulation, acoustic insulation, fire proofing, cement, brakes, shingles, flooring and many building materials.
When asbestos is broken up, such as during the mining process or when removing asbestos insulation, dust and fibres may be created.
Asbestos only becomes dangerous when it is airborne. If you think there’s asbestos in your home, the best thing to do is to do nothing – if the suspected asbestos containing material is in good shape and will not be disturbed. If you really want it gone, click here for tips.
What are the health effects of asbestos exposure?
Exposure to airborne friable asbestos may result in a potential health risk because persons breathing the air may breathe in asbestos fibers. Continued exposure can increase the amount of fibers that remain in the lung. Fibers embedded in lung tissue over time may cause serious lung diseases including: asbestosis, lung cancer, or mesothelioma. Smoking increases the risk of developing illness from asbestos exposure.
Three of the major health effects associated with asbestos exposure include:
Asbestosis:
Asbestosis is a serious, progressive, long-term non-cancer disease of the lungs. It is caused by inhaling asbestos fibers that irritate lung tissues and cause the tissues to scar. The scarring makes it hard for oxygen to get into the blood. Symptoms of asbestosis include shortness of breath and a dry, crackling sound in the lungs while inhaling. There is no effective treatment for asbestosis.
Lung Cancer
Lung cancer causes the largest number of deaths related to asbestos exposure. People who work in the mining, milling, manufacturing of asbestos, and those who use asbestos and its products are more likely to develop lung cancer than the general population. The most common symptoms of lung cancer are coughing and a change in breathing. Other symptoms include shortness of breath, persistent chest pains, hoarseness, and anemia.
Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that is found in the thin lining (membrane) of the lung, chest, abdomen, and heart and almost all cases are linked to exposure to asbestos. This disease may not show up until many years after asbestos exposure. This is why great efforts are being made to prevent school children from being exposed.
Exposure to asbestos increases your risk of developing lung disease. That risk is made worse by smoking. In general, the greater the exposure to asbestos, the greater the chance of developing harmful health effects. Disease symptoms may take several years to develop following exposure. If you are concerned about possible exposure, consult a physician who specializes in lung diseases (pulmonologist).
Information courtesy the Mayo Clinic, Ehow.com, and the US Environmental Protection Agency.
Find out more about Asbestosis.
Find out more about Mesothelioma.
