Exposure to asbestos may lead to medical conditions that are fatal. The diseases related to contact with asbestos arise from minute particles or fibers of asbestos that may be inhaled at work or at home; these get lodged in the lining that covers the vital organs and become cancers eventually. Asbestos has been classified as a known human carcinogen (a substance that causes cancer) by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the EPA, and the International Agency for Research on Cancer.
Asbestos exposure diseases
According to the World Health Organization, globally 125 million people are exposed to asbestos on their jobs every year, and 90,000 die from asbestos diseases. As per the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, the diseases caused by exposure to asbestos include malignant and non-malignant conditions like:
- lung cancer
- mesothelioma
- pleural disorders
- asbestosis
- pleural plaques
- pleural thickening
- pleural effusions
Groups of workers with cumulative exposures ranging from about 5 to 1,200 fiber-year/mL across 40 years of occupational exposure to air concentrations of 0.125 to 30 fiber/mL were diagnosed with such conditions and the link with asbestos was established.
Asbestos exposure and lung cancer
A large number of workers exposed to asbestos were detected with lung cancer; the number was larger for those in this category who smoked. Generally, lung cancer begins from the lining of the bronchi, the tubes that emanate from the trachea or windpipes. Other areas such as the trachea, bronchioles (small branches of the bronchi), or alveoli (lung air sacs) are also likely places for lung cancer. After an initial slow growth, cancer cells can metastasize or break away and spread to other parts of the body. Types of lung cancer include Small Cell Lung Cancer (SCLC), in which the cancer cells are small and round, and Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC), in which the cancer cells are bigger. Sometimes both types can co-exist; these are called Mixed Small Cell/Large Cell cancer.
Asbestos exposure and mesothelioma
Mesothelioma is caused by asbestos exposure and is also a type of cancer. A latency period of 20 to 50 years or more may elapse between the initial exposure and development of the disease; while the average gestation period is between 35 and 40 years, some cases of less than 20-year interval have also been documented. Those in the Navy prior to 1970 and those working in demolition squads that pull down old buildings are most at risk. However, mesothelioma cases have also been reported from people with very little occupational exposure. A summer job at a construction site or wives and children of persons working with asbestos are some such. So many buildings have some component of asbestos that it remains a problem even many years after a ban on the products have been put in place.
Asbestos exposure medical testing and screening
When asbestos exposure is suspected, medical consultation is advised. This begins with a thorough physical examination; a chest x-ray and lung function tests may be recommended. The chest x-ray is done to detect early signs of lung disease resulting from asbestos exposure; it does not reveal asbestos fibers in the lungs. A computed tomography (CT) may be used to obtain more detailed pictures of areas inside the body taken from different angles.
Once the preliminary evidence is suggestive of asbestos exposure, a lung biopsy is done to ascertain if microscopic asbestos fibers are present in pieces of lung tissue removed by surgery. This is the deciding factor that confirms the presence of asbestos-related abnormalities. A bronchoscopy may also be used in place of a biopsy as it is less invasive and detects asbestos fibers in material drawn from the lungs. Asbestos fibers can also be detected in urine, mucus, or feces, but these tests are not reliable for determining how much asbestos may be in an individual’s lungs.
Asbestos exposure during pregnancy
Pregnant women who have been exposed to asbestos at work over long periods of time may worry about the effect this may have on their unborn child. It has not been found that asbestos fibers can cross the placenta and reach the baby; so the unborn child is considered safe from asbestos exposure. However, since the mother would be infected and develop symptoms, it is advisable to consult a doctor. For instance, if the mother does not receive sufficient oxygen from her lungs, the normal development of the fetus may be hampered.
Signs of asbestos exposure
Some symptoms that suggest asbestos exposure include:
- Shortness of breath, wheezing, or hoarseness
- A persistent cough that gets worse over time
- Blood in the sputum (fluid) 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
