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Danger of Asbestos in the lungs lanmarcontracing.com |
Danger of Asbestos in the lungs
What do you know about asbestos calm?
Lung disease associated with asbestos is a disease caused by
exposure to asbestos fibers (as-BES-tos). Asbestos is one mineral that, in the
past, is widely used in many industries.
Asbestos consists of small fibers that can be released into
the air. When inhaled, these fibers can stay in your lungs for quite a long
time. If fibers accumulate in your lungs, they can cause:
- Pleural plaques. In this condition, the tissue around the
lungs and also the diaphragm (the muscles under your lungs) thicken and also
harden. This tissue is called the pleura. Pleural plaques usually do not cause
symptoms. Rarely, when the pleura thickens, it can trap and suppress the lungs.
This may be seen as a mass on x-ray images.
- Pleural effusion. In this condition, excess fluid builds
up in the pleural space. Pleural space is an area between the lungs and the
chest wall.
- Asbestosis (as-bes-TOE-sis). In this condition, lung
tissue becomes scarred. People who suffer from asbestosis have a greater risk
of lung cancer, especially if they smoke.
- Lung
cancer. This type of cancer forms in the lung tissue, usually in the cells that
line the airways.
- Mesothelioma (MEZ-o-thee-lee-O-ma). This disease is often
referred to as cancer in the pleura.
- Asbestos can also cause cancer in the lining of the
abdominal cavity. This layer is known as the peritoneum (PER-ih-to-NE-um).
Overview
Until the 1970s, many asbestos were used in several
industries in the United States. For example, it is used to isolate pipes,
boilers and ships; make brakes; strengthen cement; and many fire resistant
items, such as drywall.
People who
work around asbestos during this time are at risk of developing lung disease
associated with asbestos. People with the highest risk include:
-
Unprotected workers such as those who make, install or issue products
containing asbestos. People who work near other people who do this work are
also at risk.
- Members
of a family of workers exposed to asbestos. Family members may breathe asbestos
fibers brought home by workers with clothes, shoes, or on their bodies.
- People
living in areas with large asbestos deposits on the ground. This risk is limited
to areas where the sediment is disrupted and asbestos fibers enter the air.
- Asbestos
fibers can also be released into the air when old buildings containing
asbestos-made products will be destroyed. Removing these products during
building renovations can also release asbestos fibers into the air.
In general,
being around asbestos-made products is not a danger during closed asbestos.
This prevents the fiber from entering through the air.
People in
the United States tend to have asbestos-related lung disease now because their
minerals are no longer widely used.
The use of
asbestos is very limited, and rules and standards now exist to protect workers
and others from exposure to asbestos. Asbestos is only found in some new
products, such as gaskets used on brakes.
However,
many countries have not limited the use of asbestos. People in those countries
are still exposed to minerals.
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Prospects
for people who have lung disease associated with asbestos can vary. That will
depend on what disease someone has and also how much it has damaged the lungs.
There is no
treatment that can reverse the effect of asbestos on your lungs. However,
treatment can help relieve symptoms, slow the progression of the disease, or
prevent complications.
If you are
exposed to asbestos, tell your doctor. He can monitor you to see signs of
asbestos-related problems and start early treatment, if necessary. Early
treatment can help prevent or delay complications.
Quitting
smoking and starting to make other lifestyle changes can help people at high
risk for asbestos-related lung disease. These lifestyle changes can prevent
more serious diseases, such as cancer.
Significant
exposure to asbestos fibers will cause lung disease associated with asbestos.
"Significant" usually means you are exposed to dust seen from fiber
for several months.
Asbestos
fibers are very small. When you breathe, they can get stuck in your lungs.
Fiber stays in your lung tissue for a long time and can cause scarring and
inflammation. This can cause pleural plaque and broad pleural thickening,
pleural effusion, asbestosis, lung cancer, or mesothelioma.
Generally,
lung disease associated with asbestos develops approximately 10 to 40 years or
more after a person is exposed to asbestos.
Being
around products that contain asbestos is not a danger, as long as asbestos is
covered. This prevents fiber from entering the air.
Until the
late 1970s, asbestos was widely used in many industries in the United States.
During that time, workplace regulations to ensure the safety of workers around
asbestos were not required by law.
Asbestos is
used in or with many products. Examples include steam pipes, boilers, furnaces,
and furnace channels; wall board; floor and ceiling tiles; wood burning stoves
and gas fireplaces; car brakes, couplings and gaskets; train engine; roof and
shingle; and materials and paint to repair walls.
Asbestos is
also used in many other products, such as fire resistant gloves, ironing board
covers, cooking pan handles, and also in hair dryers.
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Anyone who
was employed for a long time in the mining, grinding, manufacturing or
installation of asbestos products before the late 1970s was at risk of lung
disease associated with asbestos. Some examples of these workers include:
- Miners
- Airplane
and car mechanics
- Building
construction workers
-
electricity
- Shipyard
worker
- boiler
operator
- Building
engineer
- Railway
workers
In general,
the biggest risk is for people who work with asbestos and are also exposed to
at least a few months for visible dust from asbestos fibers. The risk of
asbestos-related lung disease also depends on:
How much
asbestos is exposed to you.
How long
have you been exposed to asbestos, and how often you are in direct contact with
it.
Size,
shape, and also the chemical composition of asbestos fibers. Different types of
asbestos fibers can affect the lungs differently. For example, chrysotile
asbestos (curly fiber) tends to cause mesothelioma rather than asbestos amphibol
(straight fiber).
Your
personal risk, such as smoking or having an existing lung disease.
Family
members of people exposed to asbestos in the workplace may also be at risk.
Family members may breathe home-taken asbestos fibers with clothing, shoes, and
workers' bodies.
People who
live in areas that have large deposits of asbestos on the ground are also at
risk of developing asbestos-related lung disease. However, this risk is limited
to areas where the sediment is disturbed and asbestos fibers enter the air.
Asbestos fibers
can also be released into the air when old buildings containing asbestos-made
products are destroyed. Removing products, such as during renovation of
buildings, can also release asbestos fibers into the air.
In general,
being around asbestos products is not a danger, as long as asbestos is covered.
This prevents fiber from entering the air.
People in
the United States are less likely to develop lung disease associated with
asbestos today than in the past. This is because minerals are no longer widely
used. Also, where asbestos is still used, regulations and standards now exist
to protect workers and others from asbestos exposure.
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