Asbestos has been recognized as a dangerous substance since ancient Roman times; however, the extent of the dangers of asbestos did not really become known until recently. Although we are now aware of the dangers of asbestos, exposure still occurs and can cause serious risks and health problems.
Exposure
The danger in asbestos comes from inhaling asbestos fibers. Asbestos left alone, if not inhaled, is not inherently toxic. There are no immediate signs or symptoms of exposure to asbestos, and contrary to popular belief, neither a headache nor eye irritation occurs upon exposure. Asbestos exposure occurs in old buildings and from automobiles imported from other countries. Many rescue workers on September 11, 2001, were exposed to asbestos during the rescue efforts after the collapse of the World Trade Center Towers.
Risks
Three major health problems can be caused by asbestos exposure. These health problems include two forms of cancer: lung cancer and mesothelioma. Lung cancer and mesothelioma can take decades to develop after an initial asbestos exposure. Because lung cancer also has other causes, it is impossible to determine exactly how many cases of lung cancer are caused by asbestos exposure. Mesothelioma, on the other hand, is only caused by asbestos--there is no other known cause for mesothelioma as of 2009. The third health problem associated with asbestos exposure is asbestosis, which also can take many years to develop.
Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma can develop between 10 and 40 years after initial asbestos exposure, although it may develop much more rapidly (as of 2009, many of the September 11 rescue workers are already developing mesothelioma related to asbestos exposure). The mesothelium are a protective membrane which cover many surfaces in the body, including the lungs. When asbestos fibers are inhaled, they get caught in the mesothelium and eventually cause damage that will lead to cancer. Symptoms of mesothelioma include breathing difficulties, coughs, chest pains, back pains, fevers, insomnia, nausea, digestive upset and loss of appetite. As of 2009, there is no cure for mesothelioma, which is diagnosed in between 2,000 and 3,000 patients annually.
Lung Cancer
Although it is unknown exactly how many cases of lung cancer are asbestos related, the estimate is between 3,400 and 8,500 of the annual lung cancer diagnoses. In addition, one out of every seven patients with mesothelioma eventually develops lung cancer. Those exposed to asbestos who also smoke may have an even greater risk of developing asbestos-related lung cancer. Lung cancer related to asbestos exposure may take many years, even decades, to develop.
Asbestosis
Asbestosis is an incurable lung condition caused by asbestos inhalation. The lungs are normally protected from unhealthy fibers by hairs in the nose designed to filter out impurities when people breathe. However, asbestos fibers are so thin, they are not filtered out by the nose. As a result, they enter the lungs and cause scarring. This scarring can cause asbestosis, a condition with symptoms including difficulty breathing, coughing, chest pain, tightness in the chest, loss of appetite, dry cough, loss of appetite and curving or thickening of the fingernails. The disease is incurable, and the scarring which causes asbestosis may also eventually lead to lung cancer or mesothelioma.
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