Exposure to asbestos increases the risk of common cancer that attacks the lungs or a rarer cancer that attacks the membrane lining the chest, studies have concluded. Both types of cancer are highly lethal. Asbestos was widely used in construction and manufacturing until the 1970s when the government began banning its use. Since the latency period between asbestos exposure and the development of cancer is 20 to 40 years, the Centers for Disease Control estimates that asbestos-related deaths in the United States will peak this year.
Asbestos: An air-borne carcinogen
Asbestos refers to a group of minerals that form fibers that are highly resistant to heat, fire and chemicals. Given those properties, asbestos fibers found their way into many construction and manufacturing materials during the early 20th century. Unfortunately, asbestos fibers also have a tendency fray and become airborne. Then, they can be breathed into the lungs or swallowed, getting trapped and causing inflammation and cancer. Studies have linked high levels of asbestos exposure with the type of lung cancer also caused by smoking and a more rare, malignant mesothelioma that attacks the membrane lining the chest and abdomen. Some studies also have suggested a link between asbestos exposure and cancers of the gastrointestinal tract, throat, kidney, esophagus and gallbladder. Asbestos exposures have also led to a proliferation of lawsuits seeking damages for death and disability.
Asbestos risks revealed during and after World War II
The health risks from asbestos began to surface in the 1940s, during World War II, when the minerals were used extensively for shipbuilding and other defense purposes. After the war, the nation's housing and manufacturing boom led to more exposures since asbestos found its way into myriad products, including pipe insulation, brake shoes, floor tiles, ceiling tiles, cement mixtures and textiles. By the 1970s, the government started banning asbestos. Since then, U.S. consumption of asbestos has declined from 803,000 metric tons in 1973 to 2,400 metric tons in 2005.
Millions of Americans exposed
Unfortunately, millions of Americans were exposed to high levels of asbestos during the heyday of its use, and are now showing signs of illness. The risks of exposure can vary widely, depending on the amount of exposure, the length of exposure, the chemical makeup of the asbestos fiber and the source of the exposure.
Public health officials agree that virtually everybody is exposed to some level of asbestos since these minerals are found naturally in the soil and water. However, this type of exposure seldom leads to lung cancer or malignant mesothelioma. The real risk comes when a person is exposed regularly to relatively high levels of asbestos. And, the risk of developing lung cancer from asbestos exposure is greatly multiplied in smokers. Conversely, there is evidence that quitting smoking lowers cancer risks for people exposed to asbestos.
Symptoms of asbestos-related disease
Health officials recommend that people exposed to asbestos on the job or in the home should tell their doctors. They should provide this medical history whether they have symptoms or not since it can take decades for asbestos-related disease to develop.
According to the National Cancer Institute, the following symptoms should be of particular concern to people who have been exposed to asbestos: Shortness of breath, wheezing, or hoarseness; A persistent cough that worsens; Blood coughed up from the lungs; Pain or tightening in the chest; Difficulty swallowing; Swelling of the neck or face; Loss of appetite; Weight loss; Fatigue or anemia.
Continuing risks from asbestos exposure
The Sept. 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City demonstrated the continued risks of asbestos exposure. Because asbestos was used in constructing the North Tower, hundreds of tons of the material was released when the building collapsed. Nearly 70 percent of rescue and recovery workers were exposed to some level of asbestos, and many developed lung problems, according to the National Cancer Institute. The government now restricts the use of asbestos in most products, but it still crops up. In 2000, the Consumer Product Safety Commission studied asbestos in crayons, but found the levels were so low they didn't constitute a risk. Nonetheless, crayon manufacturers removed the material from their products.
