Asbestos is a natural fiber that is known for its strength and durability. It is because of these attributes that it is used in manufacturing, primarily of construction materials. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), it is when these materials are broken up and the asbestos fibers are airborne that they become dangerous. When inhaled into the lungs, asbestos fibers pose serious health risks.
Asbestosis
The first sign of asbestos damage to the lungs is usually asbestosis. The Mayo Clinic defines asbestosis as a breathing disorder caused by overexposure to asbestos fibers. These fibers, when inhaled, lodge in lung tissue and can cause chest pain, persistent coughing, difficulty breathing, and, in later stages of asbestosis, clubbing of the fingers and toes. Symptoms of asbestosis may not exhibit themselves until years after exposure.
Mesothelioma
There is a protective membrane around most of the organs in your body called the mesothelium. This membrane protects the organs by covering them with two layers, with fluid between the layers. According to the National Cancer Institute (NCI), mesothelioma is a cancer that develops in the mesothelium and can attach itself to organs that are near. The NCI also reports that asbestos exposure is the No. 1 risk factor for developing mesothelioma, and it can take up to 30 to 50 years for the cancer to show symptoms.
Symptoms of mesothelioma can be quite different from asbestosis. The most common symptoms, as reported by the NCI, are weight loss, pain in the abdomen, swelling, fever, bowel blockage and anemia.
Lung Cancer
The EPA reports that lung cancer is the No. 1 cause of death related to asbestos exposure. Lung cancer is the growth of a tumor in the lung tissue that can eventually obstruct the air passageway. Symptoms include difficulty breathing, chest pains, hoarseness and persistent cough. These symptoms can also be related to numerous other health issues, but if you have had exposure to asbestos, you need to be evaluated by a physician. The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry reports that smoking in combination with asbestos exposure greatly increases the risk of developing lung cancer.
Member Comments