Asbestos Dust and Mesothelioma
Inhaling Asbestos Fibers Can Lead to a Serious Form of Lung Cancer
There's a clear correlation between contact with asbestos dust and fibers, and risk of mesothelioma. Inhaling asbestos can lead to mesothelioma, a serious disease.
It's well known that contact with asbestos carries serious health risks. Mesothelioma is lung cancer, caused not by smoking, but almost only by inhaling asbestos fibers or dust. The danger of inhaling asbestos is clear and severe, but mesothelioma can and does take years - often decades - to develop. The Oct 14, 2007 Argus news describes the case of a police support officer, who contracted mesothelioma as an adult, after being exposed to asbestos dust as a young teen. She died from this fatal lung disease at age 50. With such a long time between contact with asbestos fibers and the development of mesothelioma, public education of its risk and treatment options is as important as eradication of asbestos in public buildings.
The American Council on Science and Health reports (October 15, 2007) that the risk associated with asbestos is most severe with its long, thin amphibole fibers, as compared to shorter, wider chrysotile fibers. The thinner amphibole fibers are more easily inhaled, and again, mesothelioma occurs in the lungs. Asbestos, being a natural material, will always be present in some form. Awareness that one form of asbestos fibers is more toxic than another should hopefully lead to decreased use of the pathogenic amphibole fibers.
The major risk factor associated with mesothelioma is contact with asbestos. Because of the long delay that can occur between exposure to asbestos and onset of this (albeit rare) form of lung cancer, patients seeking treatment options may not be aware of the causality. The symptoms of mesothelioma, particularly early symptoms, can look like other health issues.
Early Symptoms of Mesothelioma:
- Chest Pain
- Shortness of breath
- Fatigue
- Anemia
- Hoarseness
- Coughing or wheezing
- Coughing up blood
- Fluid in the surface of the lungs (pleural effusion)
Later and More Severe Symptoms of Mesothelioma:
- Low blood sugar
- Blood clots
- Internal organ bleeding
- Jaundice
- Blood clots in arteries of the lungs (pulmonary emboli)
- Severe pleural effusion
- Severe ascites (Sources: eMedicine.com and cancerbackup.org.uk)
Risk factors associated with exposure to asbestos dust through work have been reduced in the wake of several lawsuits: The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has also set protocols for workers (masks, warning signs, protective clothing and more; see OSHA's website for its guidelines). People should be prudent at home as well. Home renovation is typically a dusty affair, but don't panic: Not all homes have been insulated with asbestos. Certified asbestos inspectors can test homes for asbestos before a remodel or gut renovation; this is highly recommended. Mesothelioma treatment options often end up being hospice care. The potential of inhaling asbestos dust should not be taken lightly; while rare, mesothelioma is a serious, fatal form of cancer.
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