The Asbestos Forum

Asbestosis is the scarring of lung tissue resulting from the inhalation of asbestos fibers. It is a chronic inflammatory medical condition which occurs from long-term, heavy exposure to asbestos. Sufferers often have severe shortness of breath and are at an increased risk of contracting several different types of lung cancer, including mesothelioma, a rare form of lung cancer associated with asbestos exposure.

How does Asbestosis affect the body?

When asbestos fibers enter the lungs, they penetrate the lung tissue causing irritation and inflammation. When the asbestos fibers reach the lung’s air sacs, where oxygen is transferred into the blood, the asbestos fibers cause the body’s immune system to respond which provokes an inflammatory reaction. This inflammatory reaction is a chronic reaction, and causes continual inflammation in an attempt to eliminate the asbestos from the lungs. Unfortunately, there is no way for the body to expel the asbestos fibers, many of which are thinner than a human hair, from the lungs. Once inhaled, they remain there forever.

This inflammation causes scar tissue to build up inside the lungs, which reduces the body’s ability to transfer oxygen to the bloodstream, as well as the removal of carbon dioxide from the body.

Signs and Symptoms of Asbestosis

Because asbestosis causes irritation, inflammation, and scar tissue in the lungs, it affects the transmission of oxygen and removal of carbon dioxide, which is essential for the body to function efficiently. The most noticeable symptom of asbestosis is usually the slow onset of shortness of breath from minor exertion. In advanced cases of asbestosis, this can even cause fatal respiratory failure. Coughing may not be a symptom of asbestosis unless the patient has other respiratory tract diseases.

Who is at risk for Asbestosis?

Because asbestosis is caused by long-term, heavy exposure to asbestos, people with extensive occupational exposure to the mining, manufacturing, ship building, and handling or removal of asbestos are at risk of developing asbestosis. Prolonged asbestos exposure also brings an increased risk of lung cancer and mesothelioma. Most cases of asbestosis do not occur until 5-10 years after asbestos exposure.

Treatment

There is no cure for asbestosis. Many patients who suffer from asbestosis related shortness of breath require oxygen therapy at home, and may even need to take a portable oxygen canister with them when they leave home. Supportive treatment of symptoms includes removal of lung secretions and mucus from the lungs by postural drainage, chest percussion, and vibration. Some medications may be prescribed to thin the secretions for easier removal. However, it is not possible to remove the cause of asbestosis - the asbestos fibers which are in the lungs.

Preventing Asbestosis

The most effective method of preventing asbestos is avoiding the inhalation of asbestos fibers into the lungs. This can be done by avoiding areas contaminated with asbestos fibers, or by wearing approved safety devices such as masks or inhalers.

Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral fiber. It has a high tensile strength, the ability to be woven, and is resistant to heat and most chemicals. Because it has these properties, it has been valued for centuries by people of all cultures to strengthen objects and to provide heat insulation and fire resistance. In fact, asbestos has been used since the days of the Ancient Greek empire.

Uses for Asbestos

In recent years, asbestos fibers have been used in a wide range of manufactured goods, including fire retardant coatings, concrete, bricks, pipes and fireplace cement, heat, fire, and acid resistant gaskets, pipe insulation, ceiling insulation, fireproof drywall, flooring, roofing, lawn furniture, roofing shingles, ceiling and floor tiles, paper and cement products, textiles, coatings, and friction products such as automobile clutch, brake and transmission parts.

However, long term exposure to Asbestos can cause serious health risks, including the deadly lung diseases mesothelioma and asbestosis.

Health affects of Asbestos

Asbestos exposure becomes a health concern when high concentrations of asbestos fibers are inhaled over a long time period. Prolonged exposure and inhalation of asbestos fibers can cause mesothelioma and asbestosis, which are potentially fatal lung diseases.

Asbestosis is a chronic inflammatory medical condition affecting the tissue of the lungs. It occurs after long-term, heavy exposure to asbestos. Mesothelioma is a form of cancer that is almost always caused by previous exposure to asbestos.

In both diseases, the asbestos fibers become lodged in the lungs and cause inflammation, shortness of breath, and other problems. It is not possible to remove the asbestos fibers from the lungs once they are inhaled, and there is no known cure for either of these diseases.

How do I Identify Asbestos?

Asbestos can only be positively identified using a specific type of microscope. There are several types of asbestos fibers. The current federal definition of asbestos is the asbestiform varieties of: chrysotile (serpentine); crocidolite (riebeckite); amosite (cummingtonite/grunerite); anthophyllite; tremolite; and actinolite.

Why is Asbestos still used?

Even though asbestos can cause serious health problems, including lung cancer, mesothelioma, asbestosis, and even death, it is still used in the US and other countries because it has insulation and tensile properties that are not found anywhere else.

Asbestos is currently used in products including roofing materials, brake pads, and cement pipe often used in distributing water to communities. However, current regulations in the US restrict where and how asbestos can be used. There are also many items still in use that date from before the EPA regulations were enacted.

Why is Asbestos regulated?

Asbestos is regulated for safety reasons. Prolonged exposure to asbestos can cause mesothelioma, asbestosis, or other problems.

In 1974, Congress passed the Safe Drinking Water Act. This law requires EPA to determine safe levels of chemicals in drinking water which do or may cause health problems. These levels are based on possible health risks and exposure, and are called Maximum Contaminant Level Goals (MLCG).

The MCLG for asbestos has been set at 7 million fibers per liter of water (M.L.) because EPA believes this level of protection would not cause any potential health problems.

Based on this MCLG, EPA has set an enforceable standard called a Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL). MCLs are set as close to the MCLGs as possible, considering the ability of public water systems to detect and remove contaminants using suitable treatment technologies.

The MCL has also been set at 7 M.L. because EPA believes, given present technology and resources, this is the lowest level to which water systems can reasonably be required to remove this contaminant should it occur in drinking water.

These drinking water standards and the regulations for ensuring these standards are met, are called National Primary Drinking Water Regulations. All public water supplies must abide by these regulations.

Asbestos is a naturally occurring substance that is found in many places on our earth. Unfortunately, in great quantities it can wreak havoc on our health and the environment. Repeated exposure to asbestos can cause asbestosis and mesothelioma, which are fatal lung diseases.

How much Asbestos is released into the environment?

Asbestos fibers are released from natural resources and the erosion of asbestos containing ores. However, the primary source of asbestos in the environment comes via the wear or breakdown of asbestos containing substances, especially from the byproducts and waste waters of mining and other industries, and from the prevalent use of asbestos laden cement pipes commonly used in water supply systems.

According to the Toxics Release Inventory, asbestos releases into water and land totaled nearly 9 million pounds from 1987 to 1993. These asbestos releases were primarily the result of releases from asbestos products industries which use asbestos in roofing materials, friction materials, and cement.

What happens when Asbestos is released into the environment?

As a naturally occurring substance, asbestos is often present in surface and ground water. However, in large quantities, it can be extremely harmful to humans - even causing fatal diseases such as mesothelioma and asbestosis, both of which are caused primarily through inhalation of asbestos fibers.

Asbestos also causes problems in water systems because small fibers may be carried long distances by water currents before settling. Asbestos fibers do not bind to soil, and as a result can be transferred to ground water through soil. Except in massive quantities, asbestos does not often harm aquatic life.

Is there Asbestos in my drinking water?

The Environmental Protection Agency regulations for asbestos became effective in 1992. Between 1993 and 1995, the EPA required US water suppliers to collect water samples and analyze them for asbestos content. If the amount of asbestos present was above 7 M.L., the water suppliers were required to continue to monitor the water for asbestos contamination once every 3 months.

If contaminant levels are found to be consistently above the MCL, your water supplier must take steps to reduce the amount of asbestos so that it is consistently below that level. If the levels of asbestos exceed the MCL, the water supply system must notify the public via newspapers, radio, television and other means.

Additional actions, such as providing alternative drinking water supplies, may be required to prevent serious risks to public health. Asbestos may cause health problems if found in amounts greater than the health standard set by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

How do I know if there is Asbestos in the air?

Inhaling asbestos over many years can potentially lead to chronic and even fatal lung problems including the lung diseases mesothelioma and asbestosis.

It is not possible to identify asbestos just by looking at it. It can only be identified by a person trained in fiber identification with a special polarized light microscope. Because of the seriousness of a potential contamination, if you suspect there is asbestos in your environment, you should have it looked at by a professional.