• Asbestos Information
• Asbestos Exposure
• High-risk Areas
• Asbestos in Schools
• Asbestos in Homes
• Asbestos Removal
• Asbestos Poisoning
• Asbestos Bill
• Asbestos Siding
• Shipyard Asbestos Exposure
• Asbestos Fibers
• Asbestos in the Workplace
• Asbestos Products
• Asbestosis
• High Risk Occupations
• Workplace Exposure
• Lung Cancer
• Mesothelioma Cancer
• Mesothelioma Symptoms
• Mesothelioma Treatments
• Mesothelioma in Veterans
• Malignant Mesothelioma
• Pleural Mesothelioma
• Mesothelioma Diagnosis
• Mesothelioma Specialist
• Mesothelioma Treatment Centers

Although everyone is exposed to asbestos at some time during their life, people who become ill from asbestos are usually those who are exposed to it on a regular basis, most often in a job where they work directly with the material or through substantial environmental contact.

 

Serious Health Problems

According to the National Cancer Institute, prolonged exposure to asbestos can be dangerous. If products containing asbestos are disturbed, tiny asbestos fibers are released into the air. When these fibers are breathed in, they may get trapped in the lungs and remain there. Over time, the fibers can accumulate and cause scarring and inflammation, which can affect breathing and lead to serious health problems.

 

Lung Cancer & Mesothelioma

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Environmental Protection Agency and the International Agency for Research on Cancer have classified asbestos as a known human carcinogen, a substance that causes cancer. Studies have shown that exposure may increase the risk of lung cancer and mesothelioma, which is a cancer of the thin membranes that line the chest and abdomen. Mesothelioma is the most common form of cancer associated with asbestos exposure.

 

Other Risks

Some studies performed by research organizations suggest an association between asbestos exposure and gastrointestinal and colorectal cancers and an elevated risk for cancers of the throat, kidney, esophagus and gall bladder — but the evidence is inconclusive. It is known that exposure may increase the risk of asbestosis, a chronic lung disease that can cause shortness of breath, coughing and permanent lung damage and other nonmalignant lung and pleural disorders.

 

The Cancer Institute says several factors can help to determine how asbestos exposure affects an individual, including:

 

• Dose: how much asbestos an individual was exposed to

• Duration: how long an individual was exposed

• Size, shape and chemical makeup of asbestos fibers

• Source of exposure

• Individual risk factors such as smoking and pre-existing lung disease

 

Different Types of Asbestos

Although all forms of asbestos are considered hazardous, different types of asbestos fibers may be associated with different health risks. Studies have shown that amphibole forms of asbestos may be more harmful than chrysotile, particularly for mesothelioma risk, because they tend to stay in the lungs for a longer period of time. All common commercial types of asbestos have been associated with lung cancer.

 

Symptoms of Asbestos Illnesses

Persons who have been exposed to asbestos or suspect they have been exposed should inform their doctor whether or not they experience any symptoms. The symptoms of asbestos-related diseases may not become apparent for several decades after exposure. The Cancer Institute says it is particularly important to check with a doctor if these symptoms develop: shortness of breath, wheezing or hoarseness; persistent cough that gets worse over time; 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.