What are the dangers of asbestos exposure to workers?

The inhalation of asbestos fibers by workers can cause serious diseases of the lungs and other organs that may not appear until years after the exposure has occurred. For instance, asbestosis can cause a buildup of scar-like tissue in the lungs and result in loss of lung function that often progresses to disability and death.
Asbestos fibers associated with these health risks are too small to be seen with the naked eye, and smokers are at higher risk of developing some asbestos-related diseases.

What is Asbestos?

Asbestos is a type of mineral that has been commonly used for commercial purposes and has been categorized into two main types, serpentine and amphibole. Although six types of naturally-occurring minerals are officially recognized by the U.S Bureau of Mines as asbestos, more than 100 are listed as “asbestos-like.” The Environmental Protection Agency has identified amosite, crocidolite, tremolite, anthophyllite and actinolite as the different classes of asbestos.

Scientists and doctors have linked all forms of asbestos to the development of serious health conditions such as mesothelioma, asbestosis and lung cancer, among others. Chrysotile, the most common form of asbestos, makes up approximately 95 percent of the asbestos present in buildings manufactured before the 1980s. Scientific data has shown that exposure to the long, wispy fibers of asbestos can be hazardous to human health.

Asbestos Regulation and Exposure

Asbestos House Diagram

Although 52 countries have enacted a ban on asbestos use, those that have not yet issued a ban account for a large portion of asbestos use each year. According to a 2009 U.S. Geological Study (USGS), approximately 2 million tons of asbestos was produced by the late 1990s.

Russia is considered to be the largest producer of asbestos products in the world and exports asbestos to developing countries that have not currently issued asbestos regulations. In the USGS study, the major consumers of asbestos included countries such as China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Brazil, Canada, India and Colombia. While Canada is a major producer of chrysotile asbestos, it is currently very limited for use in that country.

In 1999, the U.S. used about 15,000 metric tons of asbestos. Many major health organizations around the world have recognized asbestos as a known human carcinogen. In 1977, the International Agency for Research on Cancer, part of the World Health Organization, was the first agency to recognize the potentially harmful effects of asbestos exposure. However, many countries still have not banned asbestos.

Health Risks from Asbestos

Numerous medical studies have sought the source behind the toxic effects of asbestos on the body. In the 2003 Vermont Medical Center study “Multiple Roles of Oxidants in the Pathogenesis of Asbestos-Induced Diseases,” researchers found that oxidants found in the crocidolite and amosite forms of asbestos had a damaging effect on DNA and may contribute to asbestos-related lung injuries. Asbestos can cause the over-regulation of antioxidant enzymes in human cells.

A 2010 study by the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation and the National Cancer Institute located a protein that played key role in the development of mesothelioma. The protein, HMGB1, was found in elevated levels of patients who had been exposed to asbestos. The researchers learned that as the result of asbestos exposure, the presence of this protein can lead to an inflammatory reaction that causes tumor growth. The study also found that asbestos fibers in the human body kill a cell through “programmed cell necrosis” or cell suicide. Researchers proposed that interfering with the reactions between asbestos fibers and HMGB1 may decrease the development of cancerous tumors.

At very high concentrations, asbestos fibers can cause the formation of lesions because the human body is not able to expel the fibers once they have entered the body. Cells in the mesothelium attempt to repair these lesions but are not able to and, as a result, the cells begin to die in massive numbers. The genomic alterations caused by asbestos fibers eventually lead to large chromosomal deletions that appear to be associated with cell death. Because the body is not able to expel these fibers, tumors can form.

Occupational Asbestos Exposure

The majority of asbestos-related incidences that occur each year are the result of occupational exposure. A large percentage of individuals who have been affected by asbestos are Armed Forces veterans. Higher workforce death rates have been associated with industries that had a history of working with asbestos.

According to the World Health Organization, about 125 million people have been exposed to asbestos at the workplace, and more than 107,000 workers around the world die every year from asbestos-related diseases.

The U.S. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) estimates that five deaths from lung cancer and two deaths from asbestosis will occur for every 1,000 workers exposed to asbestos in a working lifetime. Mortality rates may be higher in some industries. In one Virginia shipbuilding location, the occurrence of mesothelioma was seven times higher than the national rate. Some common industries that produced or manufactured products using asbestos include shipyards, construction and power plants.

Resources for Patients

If you have been exposed to asbestos, it is imperative to seek medical help before health conditions occur. Many patients are unaware of the potential dangers that asbestos fibers pose on their body, much of which they were exposed to years ago. Asbestos-related diseases typically have a long latency period, and symptoms arise later in life. If you would like more information about asbestos-related diseases.

Mesothelioma Treatment

Typically, there are three main categories for treatment of mesothelioma: established therapies, experimental treatments, and holistic therapies. Often these treatments are not isolated-or used alone-but rather as a combination of treatments.

Conventional Mesothelioma Treatments include therapies such as surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy drugs such as cisplatin or alimta.

Experimental Mesothelioma Treatments, such as clinical trials, have shown encouraging results to date. Such treatments include photodynamic therapy, gene therapy, and immunotherapy, among others.

Holistic Therapies for Mesothelioma also known as alternative therapies, include methods such as massages, acupuncture, TENS therapy, aromatherapy, meditation, and yoga. Holistic mesothelioma therapies are a way in which to relieve the side effects associated with established therapies.

These and many other treatments may be available to you at the mesothelioma treatment center where you are being treated, however, it is also important to discuss all of the various options you might have with your doctor.

Mesothelioma Diagnosis

Mesothelioma is almost always caused by exposure to asbestos. As with most cancers, early diagnosis greatly increases the efficacy of treatment. Unfortunately, due to the way it forms, mesothelioma may not manifest until anywhere between 30 and 40 years after the initial exposure.

Mesothelioma symptoms are generally non-specific and resemble the signs of more common illness, such as flu, bronchitis, viral pneumonia and heart disease. Some common symptoms include shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, excessive coughing, chest or abdomen pain, weight loss and loss of appetite, among many others.

Usually it is the most common symptoms – breathing difficulties and shortness of breath – which prompt patients to consult with their doctor. It’s crucial to disclose any history of exposure to asbestos, even if it occurred decades before, as this information can aid doctors in their diagnosis. Such disclosure can also prevent uncomfortable and expensive tests as well as making treatment more effective.

Mesothelioma Symptoms

In their early stages, mesothelioma symptoms are vague and mild. They gradually become more severe as the illness progresses. Asbestos fibers can remain in the body for decades, slowly causing cellular damage that may result in mesothelioma cancer 20 to 50 years after asbestos exposure took place. During the final stages of this long latency period, the undetected cancer may spread to other parts of the body, but the most common symptoms are directly related to local effects of the tumor.

Because pleural mesothelioma is the most prevalent form of the cancer, most information about mesothelioma symptoms refers to the pleural subtype. Although observations of the other forms of mesothelioma have been limited by the cancer’s infrequent occurrence, a unique set of symptoms has been established for each type of the disease.

To get an accurate diagnosis, patients are encouraged to arm themselves with information about symptoms, doctors and the disease of mesothelioma. For a list of the top mesothelioma specialists as well as a complete list of symptoms, fill out our form below for a complimentary informational packet. A packet will be sent to you overnight.

Asbestos and the Development of Mesothelioma

Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that was incorporated into thousands of products throughout the majority of the 20th century. Common items that contained the hazardous substance included insulation, roofing materials, drywall, ceiling and flooring tiles, cements, valves, seals and other construction products. Asbestos was primarily used because it was cheap, fire-resistant and had insulating capabilities.

Mesothelioma may develop after someone has either inhaled or ingested asbestos fibers. This most often occurs when asbestos-containing materials are damaged or disturbed and those in the area fail to wear protective equipment. Once the microscopic fibers that make up asbestos have entered the body, they typically attach to the lining of the lungs and become lodged. Overtime, these fibers create enough irritation and inflammation to cause tumors to develop. Unfortunately, these tumors do not cause symptoms until they have reached an advanced stage of development, leaving a person with limited treatment options and a poor mesothelioma prognosis.