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Asbestos and Respiratory Diseases
By Birgit S.
Could your job be making you sick? For too many workers, that's a
real danger. The air they breathe on the job is a health hazard.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC), occupationally-related airway diseases, including asthma
and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
(COPD), pose a significant public health threat. CDC says nearly 30
percent of COPD and adult asthma may be attributable to
occupational exposure and more than 20 million U.S. workers are
exposed to substances that can cause airway diseases.
Asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (primarily
chronic bronchitis and emphysema) are diseases of the lung
airways. CDC says both diseases can be brought on by exposure
to irritants in the workplace. In addition, many workers are
unaware that pre-existing asthma and COPD may be worsened by
the work environment.
On-the-job hazards
What kind of irritants are we talking about? Here's are some
examples, compiled from CDC, the American Lung Association
(ALA), and the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP):
* Asbestos was commonly used as an insulator and fire
retardant until scientists discovered that asbestos fibers are
deadly, potentially causing asbestosis ( scarring of lung tissues)
and lung cancer. Workers most at risk of asbestos exposure
include those in mining, construction, demolition, shipyards, tiling,
electrical insulation, and paving, among other industries. ALA says
it can be years between exposure to asbestos and development
of symptoms.
* Dust can come from such things as wood, cotton, coal,
asbestos, silica and talc. ALA says dusts from textile processing
cause byssinosis ("brown lung"), a chronic condition involving
obstruction of the small airways. Coal dust causes coal workers'
pneumoconiosis or "black lung," also an obstruction of the small
airways. Silica affects workers in mines, foundries, blasting
operations, and stone, glass, and clay manufacturing.
Fumes can be given off by metals that are heated and cooled
quickly, according to AAFP. Examples of jobs that involve exposure
to such fumes are welding, smelting, furnace work, pottery
making, plastics manufacture and rubber operations.
* Toxins found in various grains are a risk for hundreds of
thousands of agricultural workers. Moldy hay can produce flu-like
symptoms according to AAFP. Farm workers are also at risk of
exposure to hair, feathers, animal dander, and bacteria.
* Anthrax is caused by the bacterium Bacillus anthracis. It most
commonly occurs in hoofed mammals such as sheep, cattle,
horses, and goats. Farm workers,veterinarians, and those who
work tanning hides or processing wool are at risk of contracting
the disease by inhaling spores of the bacterium. In addition to
inhaled anthrax, there is also a skin form of anthrax.
* Gases such as formaldehyde, ammonia, and chlorine, can be
found in jobs where chemical reactions occur and in jobs with high
heat operations, such as welding and furnace work.
* Vapors can be given off by solvents, and usually irritate the
nose and throat first, before they affect the lungs according to
AAFP.
* Paints, lacquers, hair spray, pesticides, cleaning products,
acids, and solvents can also cause damage to the airways.
* Latex allergies have become a major problem for health care
workers, as a result of increased use of protective gloves. CDC
says studies show that over one in fifty healthcare workers have
developed latex-related asthma.
* If someone is exposed to carcinogens or irritants at work,
smoking can make things much worse. ALA says smokers who are
exposed to such carcinogens as asbestos and radiation, greatly
increase their chances of getting lung cancer and other lung
diseases.
Symptoms
Exposure to any of the above substances can produce a wide
range of symptoms. These can range from a runny nose and
scratchy throat, to bronchitis, persistent cough, fever, and
problems breathing. AAFP says that if a worker develops unusual
symptoms after switching to a new job, for example, or after being
at a particular job for awhile, this could indicate a work-related
disorder.
In addition, if someone develops asthma for the first time as an
adult, it could be related to something at their job. Asthma
symptoms include wheezing, a persistent dry cough or trouble
breathing. Emphysema is another condition that can develop after
exposure to workplace dangers, including coal, asbestos or silica
dust. Symptoms include cough, fatigue, chest tightness and
difficulty breathing.
If you suspect a work-related respiratory condition, it's important
to talk with your doctor. You should also start keeping a written
record of things you notice about your condition, according to
AAFP, including:
* when symptoms started
* how often they occur
* if they get worse or better at certain times of the day or on
certain days
* what potential hazards you may be exposed to at work, as
well as what precautions you have been told to follow when
around these hazards
* what days and shifts you work and how these relate to the
way you feel
You can also talk with other workers to see if they're experiencing
unusual symptoms, as well as your supervisors. Depending on the
type of exposure, solutions can include more ventilation as well as
changes in work practices and/or machinery. It's also important
that anyone who is concerned about lung exposure quit smoking if
they haven't already done so.
The Dangers of Asbestos
Learn the dangers of asbestos. Before 1972 the most common
element used to insulate buildings was asbestos. Only later did
we find out that breathing in the element could result in lung
restrictive illnesses and death.
Until 1972, most of the buildings in this country were constructed
with asbestos, including schools, offices and homes. At the time,
no one had any idea that when inhaled asbestos was deadly.
Today, people and asbestos precariously coexist in old buildings.
However, it is only when asbestos is disturbed that it becomes a
health threat to human beings.
Asbestos is a naturally occurring material that was used commonly
in buildings for insulation. Asbestos fibers are exceptionally strong
and are resistant to heat. Asbestos is commonly found in ceiling
tiles, flooring and pipes.
Asbestos only becomes a danger when it is disturbed, causing the
fibers to become airborne. This is commonly referred to as friable
asbestos, while intact asbestos is referred to as non-friable
asbestos. Friable asbestos has become airborne and the human
lungs are now susceptible to breathing in the airborne fibers.
Research has yet to determine a safe level of exposure to
asbestos, but one thing is for certain; the more prolonged the
exposure, the greater the risk becomes for developing an
asbestos related disease.
Doctors often compare the dangers associated with asbestos to
those of smoking cigarettes. The more cigarettes one smokes, the
greater the danger for developing lung cancer. Similarly, the more
one is exposed to asbestos, the greater the chance for developing
an asbestos related disease. This is why asbestos poisoning is
often called an occupational hazard disease, because the people
who commonly work with the material are the most at risk for
developing an asbestos related disease.
There are three diseases that are triggered by inhaling asbestos
fibers: asbestosis, mesothelioma, and lung cancer. Asbestosis is
caused when asbestos fibers are inhaled and become trapped in
the lungs. In response, the body tries to dissolve the fibers by
producing an acid. While not destroying the fibers, the acid serves
to scar the lung tissue. Eventually the scarring can become so
severe that the lungs become unable to function. The time from
exposure to the manifestation of asbestosis in most patients is
between 25 to 40 years. Mesothelioma is a cancer of the outside
tissue of the lungs.
This cancer is solely linked to asbestos. The time from exposure to
manifestation of mesothelioma is from 15 to 35 years. Cancer of
the lungs can also be caused by exposure to asbestos. However,
the chances of developing lung cancer from asbestos are greatly
increased with smoking. The exposure to manifestation period for
lung cancer from asbestos exposure is from 15 to 35 years.
Despite many common myths, initial exposure cannot be detected
by medical x-rays or physiological symptoms. Asbestos exposure
does not cause headaches, fever, or muscle aches. The symptoms
of exposure go unnoticed for at least 15 years. However, at the
time of manifestation, doctors can determine asbestos exposure.
The risk of being exposed to asbestos is increased by the
presence of construction. Work on ceilings and flooring can cause
the asbestos to become friable. This is why non-friable asbestos is
often recommended to be left in tact and not removed. Asbestos
does not just chip away or decompose, it must be physically
disturbed to pose a threat to human health.
If asbestos is required to be removed, either before or during a
construction project, or due to an accidental disturbance, state
laws require that certain precautions and procedures take place.
These regulations aim to ensure that the appropriate steps are
taken during an abatement procedure, and all health and safety
precautions are taken.
For more information go to: http://www.official-mesothelioma-
info.com/
About the Author
For more information go to: http://www.official-mesothelioma-info.com/
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