What are the health effects of asbestos exposure?
People exposed to asbestos may suffer from several diseases. Asbestos fibers can cause a type of permanent lung damage known as asbestosis. People who have asbestosis often have shortness of breath and increased risk of serious lung infections. Asbestos can also cause lung cancer, and a rare type of cancer known as mesothelioma, which affects the lining around the lungs and abdomen. It can also cause other abnormalities in the lining of the lung, called pleural plaques or pleural thickening. In some cases, these pleural changes may get worse and cause breathing difficulties. Published reports have shown that even a relatively short-term exposure to Libby asbestos from the processing of vermiculite ore can result in asbestos disease many years later. Should family members of former Western Minerals’ workers be concerned? Studies show that health problems from asbestos exposure can occur in both workers and their families. We now know that many family members of workers were exposed to a
Asbestos materials can break down into small, fiberous dust as they age. In fact, an average human hair is approximately 1200 times thicker than an asbestos fiber9. Since it was used widely in many applications, asbestos fibers can be found almost anywhere in the air5. Due to its tiny size and shape, asbestos fibers can remain suspended in the air for a long period of time and can easily penetrate deep into the lungs after being inhaled or breathed9 (Figure 3). Asbestos fibers, which can stay in the body for many years, have been linked to numerous health issues, including lung diseases and cancer5,9. In industry, exposure to asbestos-containing material (ACM) is considered to be hazardous and can result in various occupationally related diseases6,7. According to Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation2, the list of cancer causing asbestos minerals is incomplete and still growing. Therefore, although many known asbestos fibers have been banned today, the continuing issue of exposure t
Asbestos fibers can cause serious health problems. If asbestos fibers are inhaled, these tiny microscopic fibers can cause normal functions of the lungs to be disturbed. Exposure increases the risk of developing lung cancer, mesothelioma, or asbestosis, which is a scaring of the lungs that leads to breathing problems. It could take anywhere from 15 to 30 years after the first exposure for symptoms to occur. Medical investigations have shown that inhalation is the principal route of entry that leads to asbestos-related diseases. There is no known safe exposure level to asbestos. The greater the exposure, the greater the risk of developing an asbestos-related disease. Asbestos Products Ban and Phase Out On July 12, 1989, EPA issued a final rule banning some, but not all, asbestos-containing products. For additional documents that provide more detail on the status of EPA’s ban on asbestos-containing products, please visit the EPA website . Regulations Governing Asbestos Pursuant to the Cl
If you are exposed to a substance such as asbestos, many factors will determine whether harmful health effects will occur and what the type and severity of those health effects will be. These factors include the dose (how much), the duration (how long), how often, the route or pathway from which you are exposed (breathing, eating, drinking, or skin contact), your individual characteristics such as age, gender, nutritional status, family traits, life-style, and state of health, and other chemicals to which you are exposed, such as cigarette smoke. Cigarette smoking works synergistically with asbestos exposure to greatly increase your chance of getting lung cancer. The greater the total exposure to asbestos, the greater the chance you will become ill. Some experts believe that there is no definite safe exposure level for asbestos. The best way to protect yourself is to limit your exposure as much as possible. The size and shape of the asbestos fibre appear to play a major role in the tox
