Asbestos Exposure
Can Damage Lungs
One of the best things about this time of year is breathing in the cool crisp air while staring at the bright blue sky so typical of October. Unfortunately, not everyone is able to share this pleasantry due to any one of a number of lung diseases. In fact, over 30 million Americans live with some type of lung disease, such as lung cancer, emphysema, asthma, and chronic bronchitis. Since October is Healthy Lungs Month, it is an appropriate time to reflect on those who have difficulty breathing.
While there are a host of lung diseases, they all share at least some symptoms in common. These include chronic cough (any cough that lasts more than a month), shortness of breath (especially that occurs with little or no exertion or lasts a long time following normal exercise), chronic mucus production, wheezing, or coughing up blood.
Any time any of these symptoms appear, a physician should be consulted.
Lung disease may result from a number of factors, such as smoking, viral or bacterial infection, asthma triggers, fungus, air pollution, and occupational hazards, including exposure to substances such as coal, silica, chemical vapors, metal fumes, raw cotton, and the one we will consider in more detail, asbestos.
Asbestos is a naturally occurring group of minerals that is so small, it is invisible without the assistance of a microscope. It is a mined substance, so miners and residents of mining communities are usually the first exposed. Because its fibrous shape gives it strength and flexibility, and due to its fire-resistant nature, it has been used for over a century in building and manufactured products. In most of those products, the asbestos is combined with a binding material to prevent it from being released into the air, but if the asbestos should become airborne, it can be inhaled and will remain in the lungs for a very long period of time. The health effects are so serious, there is no known safe exposure level. Once the asbestos fibers enter the lungs, they become lodged in the lining and cause scarring. This condition is known as asbestosis, which leads to breathing problems and heart failure.
Inhalation of asbestos can also cause lung cancer, including a relatively rare form known as mesothelioma. About 2000-3000 new cases of mesothelioma are diagnosed each year, typically in males between the ages of 50-70, but it is also found in women and children. Mesothelioma can affect the lining of the lungs and/or the lining of the abdomen, and also may be linked to cancer of the stomach, intestines, and rectum. While asbestosis can range from mild to severe, mesothelioma is difficult to diagnose and tends not to respond well to treatment. As with other cancers, treatment measures include surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. The average survival time is about one year from the time of diagnosis.
Although the hazards of asbestos have long been known, and deaths related to asbestos have been documented since the late 19th century, workers were not allowed to seek compensation for their injuries until 1951. While some uses of asbestos have been banned altogether and others are being curtailed in stages in this country, asbestos is a substance that is used worldwide. And because the health effects of exposure to asbestos tend to have a long latency period, as long as 30 or 40 years in some instances, we can expect the number of asbestos related illnesses will continue to increase.
It can be nearly impossible to know if one has been exposed to asbestosis in the home or in the workplace. If you think you may have been exposed, it is important to consult with your doctor. Also, do not smoke; smokers exposed to asbestos have a much greater chance of developing lung cancer than created by smoking alone. Be honest with yourself – recognize that a chronic cough, shortness of breath and other lung symptoms are not normal, and see a doctor. Take appropriate action as instructed by your physician. Try to avoid lung hazards such as second-hand smoke and such as getting vaccinated against pneumonia and having annual flu shots. Early detection and treatment of lung diseases produces the best result.
For additional information about lung health, contact the American Lung Association at 1-800-545-2433 or www.ala.org, or contact www.asbestosismesothelioma.com for specific information on asbestosis and mesothelioma. For information about the flu and pneumonia clinics, contact the Central Connecticut Health District at 721-2822.