An estimated 1.3 million workers in the United States are exposed to asbestos, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. People in the construction industry, particularly those involved in demolition of old buildings and removal of asbestos, are at highest risk of exposure. Those employed in manufacturing of products containing asbestos and mechanics that perform automotive brake and clutch work are also at risk of developing asbestosis, or a breathing condition caused by exposure to asbestos fibers. People who are exposed to asbestos are 90 times more likely to develop lung ailments than those who are not exposed, according to Asbestos.net.
Shortness of Breath
Shortness of breath, like other symptoms of asbestosis, may take years to appear and develop slowly. At first, the patient may feel short of breath only with physical exertion but will feel increasingly breathless even while at rest. The patient's lungs may have a dry, crackling sound when inhaling.
Decreased Tolerance
The person will become increasingly exhausted, tiring at even modest activity. This is because the lungs are unable to deliver oxygen to the blood, starving muscles and organs of the oxygen they need to survive.
Cough and Labored Breathing
When asbestos fibers enter the lungs, immune cells try to eat the fibers as a way of defending the body. The asbestos fibers are too tough for the cells to digest, and the fibers eventually rupture the immune cells. The contents of the immune cells spill and the lungs form a scar over the area to prevent further damage. Eventually, a large proportion of the lungs are scarred, making it difficult to breathe. Additionally, the lungs become stiff, requiring a lot of muscle effort to inhale and exhale.
Chest Pain
The patient may have chest pain or chest tightness. This symptom may or may not accompany physical activity or shortness of breath.
Pleural Effusion
Exposure may lead to asbestos-related pleural effusion, according to MedlinePlus. Pleural effusion describes a condition where fluid builds in the empty space around the lungs. This condition is harmless and goes away on its own.
Respiratory Failure
Severe asbestosis may lead to respiratory failure, according to the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. Asbestosis develops in 49 to 52 percent of those with occupational exposure to asbestos, and many of those die from asbestos-related cancers and other respiratory illnesses, notes the agency.
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