What are the effects of asbestos on health?

The effects on human health of prolonged and unsafe exposure to asbestos are well documented. Asbestos fibers are easily inhaled and transported to the lower part of the lungs, where they can cause pulmonary fibrosis (asbestosis) as well as changes in the lining of the chest cavity (pleura). These illnesses can lead to decreased respiratory function and death. Long-term inhalation of asbestos fibers also increases the risk of lung cancer and mesothelioma.

Cardiomegaly can also manifest as an indirect effect of the increased resistance of blood flow in the lungs.

• People are more likely to have asbestos-related health conditions:

• if they are exposed to high concentrations of asbestos;

• if they are exposed to it for prolonged periods;

• if they are exposed to asbestos more frequently.

What is asbestosis?

Asbestosis is a chronic lung disease characterized by the formation of scar-like tissue in the lungs (pulmonary fibrosis). This fibrosis reduces the elasticity of the lungs, which makes it more difficult to breathe. Shortness of breath is the most common symptom. In most cases, one of the physical signs is the presence of crepitations, which can be heard using a stethoscope. Often referred to as "rattles", they are usually felt towards the end of a full inspiration. However, here you can get complete help in Alabama Asbestos Exposure.

When diagnosing asbestosis, chest x-rays show small, irregular opaque areas (spots on the x-ray corresponding to areas where the x-rays could not pass through the tissue). They are usually seen in the middle and lower lobes of the lungs. Investigation of lung function can help determine the degree of severity of the disease. People with advanced asbestosis have the following symptoms: shortness of breath, cough, chest pain, reduced lung function, digital hippocratism, and bluish skin.

Asbestosis usually appears after several years of exposure to asbestos fibers. Its appearance and evolution vary from person to person. Often the evolution is slow, and little change is seen after five or ten years or more. In many cases, the disease does not progress after diagnosis. However, it can develop more quickly in some people, due to different dust exposure history.

What are the risks of lung cancer associated with working in the presence of asbestos?

The risk of developing lung cancer after exposure to asbestos depends on a number of factors, the most important of which are:

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• the level (quantity) and duration (time) of exposure;

• the time elapsed since exposure;

• the age at which the exposure took place;

• the exposed person's smoking history;

• the type and size of asbestos fibers.

The average time from exposure to cancer onset (latency period) is 20 to 30 years. Although lung cancer is usually associated with long-term asbestos exposures, some studies indicate that workers exposed to asbestos for one to twelve months showed an increased risk of developing lung cancer years later. .

Lung cancer has also been documented in people living with asbestos workers and their family members, presumably caused by exposure to asbestos fibers carried home on work clothes.