Asbestos Exposure

Not long ago, asbestos was commonly used in homes and offices for insulation, within appliances and under floors. Asbestos was also used to build ships, and played a significant role in many other types of construction.
Because of the frequency of its use, asbestos exposure was extremely common for people in many different lines of work. Demolition experts, for example, were exposed to asbestos fibers every time they demolished a building that contained the mineral. Electricians may have been subjected to asbestos exposure when working within the walls of a home or building with asbestos insulation, and the use of asbestos paints allowed the material to be placed in countless properties all over the country.
In addition, family members of those exposed to asbestos may also be at risk for problems from asbestos fibers. These fibers often stuck to clothes, and could be inhaled when doing laundry or when in close proximity to the individual.
What Happens When You Are Exposed to Asbestos?
Although anyone that lives or works in close proximity to asbestos is at risk for inhaling asbestos fibers, the population most at risk are those that handle the mineral in a way that releases fibers, such as when pulling apart walls or crushing asbestos laden insulation material.
These types of activity release asbestos fibers into the air. These fibers are then breathed in by those in the area. The reason that asbestos was such a popular material in buildings was because it was resistant to heat and chemicals. However, it is this resistance that also makes the fibers so dangerous – once they have been inhaled, they lodge in the tissues of your body and resist your body’s efforts to remove them, effectively taking up permanent residence in your lungs, tissues, and other organs.
Once lodged, asbestos fibers can cause inflammation as your body attempts to get rid of them the only way it knows how. Over time that inflammation puts you at risk for developing tumors, ultimately leading to asbestos related diseases.

What is Caused By Asbestos Exposure?

The most well-known and dangerous disease caused by asbestos is known as mesothelioma – a cancer that forms within the lining of your lungs. Asbestos can also cause a condition known as asbestosis, a respiratory disease that leads to chronic coughing and a reduction in lung capacity. Asbestos exposure can also cause lung cancer, which is why it is especially dangerous for people who smoke.
How Much Exposure is Too Much?
Scientists are unclear of the degree of exposure necessary to trigger symptoms. It may be possible, though unlikely, that just a small amount of exposure can put someone at risk. Because symptoms of asbestos-related diseases do not show up for roughly 15 to 50 years after exposure, it may be difficult to know exactly how much exposure the individual was subjected to over the course of their lifespan.
Nevertheless, those at the greatest risk of developing a serious health problem are those that work at sites with regular, extensive asbestos exposure, and those that come into close contact with them. Anyone that works or lives in an area that has a great deal of asbestos should be very careful to avoid the fibers and consult with a doctor regularly to ensure no symptoms have developed.