Because asbestos is fibrous and very durable, it was used in many products for heat protection and as a binder. The physical properties that give asbestos its resistance to heat and decay are linked with several adverse human health effects. Asbestos tends to break into a dust of microscopic fibers. Because of their size and shape, these tiny fibers can remain suspended in the air for long periods of time and can easily penetrate body tissues when inhaled. Because of their durability, these fibers can remain in the body for many years.

Exposure to asbestos can cause mesothelioma, lung cancer, asbestosis, pleural disease and other cancers. For a very general overview of these diseases, read below. For a more thorough understanding, consult your physician and/or see our links page where you can access information from the United States National Institute of Health (NIH), the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) and others.

It is important to note that not all people exposed to asbestos will develop an asbestos-related disease. Many doctors believe the amount of exposure is significant, although some people who have been exposed to a very small amount of asbestos over a brief period of time have contracted mesothelioma. In addition, the absence of disease may also be because these diseases have a long latency period — that is, they don’t show up until 10 to 40 years after exposure.


MESOTHELIOMA
Mesothelioma is a rare cancer of the chest and abdominal membranes that almost never occurs without exposure to asbestos. The tumor can spread rapidly over the surface of the lungs, abdominal organs and heart. Symptoms of mesothelioma can include cough, shortness of breath, weight loss, excessive sweating and chest pain. Some treatments that have been used with mesothelioma patients include radiation, chemotherapy and surgery. Patients often use oxygen and pain medication such as morphine to reduce the symptoms of the disease. Mesothelioma currently is incurable. The average survival time is eight to 14 months, and three-fourths of all patients die within the first year following diagnosis.

LUNG CANCER
Lung cancer causes the largest number of deaths related to asbestos exposure. People who were involved in the mining, milling and manufacturing of asbestos or the use of asbestos products show a much higher incidence of lung cancer than the general population. The most common symptoms are coughing and a change in breathing. Other symptoms can include shortness of breath, persistent chest pains, hoarseness and anemia.

People who have been exposed to asbestos and who smoke have a significantly greater risk of developing lung cancer than people who have only been exposed to asbestos. One study found that asbestos workers who smoke are 90 times more likely to develop lung cancer than people who neither smoke nor have been exposed to asbestos.

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ASBESTOSIS
Asbestosis is a serious, chronic, non-cancerous respiratory disease. Asbestos fibers which have been inhaled aggravate lung tissues, causing them to scar. Asbestosis is a chronic disease of the lungs which makes breathing progressively more difficult and can lead to death. Symptoms can include shortness of breath and a dry crackling sound from the lungs while inhaling.

There is no effective treatment for asbestosis and the disease can be disabling or fatal. The risk of asbestosis is small for those who do not work with asbestos. Those who built, repaired, renovated or demolished buildings with asbestos may be at risk, depending on the nature of the exposure and what workplace precautions were taken.

PLEURAL DISEASE
Pleural plaques or pleural thickening are the most common asbestos diseases. The pleura is a set of thin membranes that line the chest cavity. This lining provides a lubricated, friction-free surface for the lungs to expand and contract against. Changes in the pleura can begin to occur after occupational exposure to asbestos and a latency period of at least 10 years from the onset of that exposure. In most cases, a person with pleural disease only will not experience any significant impairment. However, a person with pleural disease needs to be followed and monitored by a physician.

OTHER CANCERS
Other cancers that also may be associated with asbestos exposure include gastrointestinal cancers (esophagus, colon, rectum or stomach) and cancer of the larynx.

DIAGNOSIS
People who have been exposed to asbestos at work, home or elsewhere who believe they may have an asbestos disease should have a full pulmonary examination by a physician competent in detecting asbestos disease. X-rays should be taken and read by a B-reader, a person trained and tested in the specialized reading of x-rays for asbestos disease. This testing is more meaningful if the patient can provide a full history of exposure to asbestos.

Of course, if cancer or mesothelioma are diagnosed, medical specialists should be consulted immediately. The median survival time for a victim of mesothelioma is eight to 12 months, with some surviving for two years.

MESOTHELIOMA TREATMENT
Some forms of treatment include pleurectomy or pneumonectomy with radiation treatment. Chemotherapy often is prescribed. Experimental treatments are available at some institutions.

MEDICAL PROVIDERS
It is important to get a diagnosis or seek treatment from a physician or hospital with expertise in detecting and treating asbestos disease. For a listing of some treaters and hospitals, click here. Please note that this is not an endorsement of any physician or hospital.

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