Symptoms of Asbestos Exposure

What is Asbestos
Asbestos is a group of minerals that occur naturally as thin separable fibers. Asbestos are categorized in subgroups of chrysotile and amphibole. Amphibole has got straight needle-like fibers. The group of amphiboles consist of actinolite, anthophylite, amosite, crocidolite, and tremolite asbestos. Chrysotile is the asbestos that is used more in commercial applications.

Mined and used from the late 1800's, asbestos was used widely from the 1940s to the 1980s because of certain amazing properties that this group of minerals contained. Following are some of these properties.

-- Very good non-conductor of electricity
-- Heat resistant
-- Fire resistant
-- Good chemical resistance

Where Was / Is Asbestos Used
Asbestos has been used to a great extent in the construction industry. Asbestos was used to strengthen cement, make plastic materials stronger, in manufacturing insulation material, in roofing, as fireproofing material, for soundproofing. The auto industry used it to manufacture clutch-plates and brake-liners. The shipping industry used it extensively for boiler insulation, and steam / hot water pipes. Other common uses were for the manufacture of ceiling and floor tiles, adhesives, and paints.

Serious Health Problems that Asbestos Exposure Can Cause
Prolonged exposure to asbestos can cause a variety of serious health problems. Following are three of the major health problems caused by asbestos exposure.

-- Asbestosis - Excess accumulation of asbestos in the lungs that cause lung scarring / fibrosis
-- Mesothelioma - A rare form of cancer of the thin membranes that surround the lungs and abdomen
-- Lung Cancer - One of the leading causes of death due to asbestos exposure

Who is at Risk of Asbestos Exposure
The use of asbestos in construction is at a minimum today. Persons affected the most are those who were exposed to asbestos from the 40's until the late 80's.

Following is a list of those who are at a maximum risk of asbestos exposure.

-- Workers responsible for building and who handle material containing asbestos in the construction industry
-- Workers of asbestos-removal companies who are directly involved in the removal of asbestos containing material
-- Construction workers responsible for house / building renovation
-- Shipyard workers renovating old ships
-- Shipyard workers breaking-down and demolishing ships for scrap

Not only are these group of people at a risk of asbestos exposure, but so are the people they immediately come in contact with, such as friends and members of the family. Fine particles of asbestos cannot be seen by the naked eye, and can be imbedded in their hair, and the clothing they wear. This helps in getting the asbestos fibers from the workplace to wherever the individual goes.

Common Symptoms of Asbestos Exposure
Most of the symptoms caused due to asbestos exposure do not surface for many years after the exposure and could begin surfacing upto 40 years of the first exposure. If the exposure is of severe nature, symptoms such as a recurring wheezing cough, or sudden difficulty in breathing could develop within months of the exposure. The earlier the symptoms are noticed and checked by a qualified physician, the less future damage will it cause.

Following are some of the known common symptoms of asbestos exposure.

-- Shortness of breath
-- Difficulty in breathing
-- Dry, crackling sound while breathing
-- Chronic / persistent cough
-- Constant chest pain
-- Unexplained weight loss
-- Loss of appetite
-- Difficulty in swallowing
-- A swelling of the face or neck
-- Nausea
-- Anemia
-- Sudden fever / night sweats

Having one or more of these symptoms does not necessarily mean that you have an asbestos related health problem. It could be some other problem not related to asbestos at all, but it is advisable to get it checked by your physician immediately.

You may be asked to get X-rays of the chest removed, or a CT scan done, or if the case is found to be of severe nature, a lung biopsy to detect the asbestos fibers could be performed.

Visiting the physician once you are aware of any symptoms of asbestos exposure could not just prolong, but possibly even save your life.