Asbestosis & Mesothelioma - Causes & Symptoms

Asbestosis - The Cause

Asbestosis and asbestos-related diseases are caused by inhaling asbestos fibres. There is no cure at present, but early identification can stop the condition from getting worse.

When asbestos is physically disturbed in uncontrolled circumstances, tiny, needle-like fibres of asbestos become airborne. If these fibres are inhaled they travel like small arrows deep into the lungs penetrating the tissue. The harm they cause may not be immediate, but the long-term effects are serious.

When the fibres penetrate the lung tissue, they trigger an inflammatory reaction. In an attempt to defend itself, the body sends white blood cells to engulf and attack these foreign objects. The fibres usually resist and destroy these blood cells, and this leaves increasing amounts of unwanted debris around the affected area, thereby promoting further inflammation and irreversible scarring of the lungs.

Asbestosis - The Symptoms

The symptoms of asbestosis don't tend to appear for many years. Whilst manifestation times differ with individuals, it may take as long as 25 to 40 years.

This means that even though working practices & precautions have been dramatically improved, we still see a large number of people just starting to show signs of ill health and diseases such as mesothelioma.

Typically, shortness of breath is a sign of asbestosis, as well as a sign of a range of other diseases. People may relate this symptom to a more friendly disease for their own peace-of-mind, but if you experience shortness of breath and know or suspect that you have been exposed to asbestos in your past, then it would be wise to consult your doctor.

Shortness of breath initially occurs on exertion, but later, even at rest. It is the main symptom and a result of reduced lung capacity, and pressure in and around the lungs. Other common symptoms include tiredness - from a lack of oxygen, and coughing..

Asbestosis can also cause thickening of the pleura. The pleura is the membrane that lines the outside of the lungs, and this symptom will likely only be noticed upon x-ray. It is usually an x-ray performed for a reason other than suspected asbestosis that reveals this symptom. If the thickening is severe it may restrict lung function, again causing shortness of breath.

Mesothelioma - The Cause

Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer, only caused by exposure to asbestos. This cancer may occur in the pleura and shortness of breath will result.

Other negative effects of mesothelioma are chest pain and intestinal obstruction. The latter results from this cancer in the abdominal wall.

Mesothelioma is a cancer of mesothelial cells. These cells cover the outer surface of most of our internal body organs, forming a lining that is sometimes called the mesothelium. So this is where this type of cancer gets its name.

Even though mesothelioma is a form of cancer, it is unusual for it to spread to other parts of the body. If it does, it does not usually cause problems.

Mesothelioma - The Symptoms

In its early stages, mesothelioma does not have many symptoms.

When symptoms do develop, they are often caused by the cancer growing and pressing on either a nerve or another body organ.

There are two main types of mesothelioma and the symptoms differ. There are two main types of this form of cancer:

Pleural mesothelioma

Peritoneal mesothelioma

The pleural type grows in the tissues covering the lungs. The peritoneal type grows in the tissue lining the inside of the abdomen. Pleural mesothelioma is much more common than peritoneal mesothelioma.

Between 7 and 8 out of 10 (70-80%) of cases of mesothelioma are pleural mesothelioma. Peritoneal mesothelioma is much less common.

The typical symptoms of pleural mesothelioma are pain in the lower back, pain in the side of the chest, a persistent cough, shortness of breath, a hoarse or husky voice, noticeably losing weight when not dieting, sweating, fevers and difficulty swallowing.

The typical symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma include pain in the abdomen, swelling in the abdomen, feeling or being sick, poor appetite, noticeably losing weight when not dieting and diarrhoea or constipation.

These symptoms are all more likely to be caused by some other illness, rather than by mesothelioma. However, if you have these symptoms, consult your doctor, especially if you have been exposed to asbestos in the past.

How does Asbestos Cause Mesothelioma?

Asbestos is made up of tiny fibres. You can breathe these fibres in when you come into contact with asbestos, particularly when these fibres are airborne. The fibres work their way into the pleura, the lining of the lung. They irritate the pleura and damage the cells that the pleura are made of. This promotes the growth of cancerous cells.

Some of the fibres that have been breathed in can be coughed up and swallowed. This is probably one of the causes of peritoneal mesothelioma. Most cases of mesothelioma occur in men who have worked in manufacturing using asbestos or used asbestos based products, particularly in construction or engineering.

The use of asbestos was very heavy in the years after the war (Post 1945). Mesothelioma may not develop until 15 - 40 years after you have been exposed to asbestos, which is why we are seeing an increase in cases now. The number of cases is expected to peak around 2018 and then start to decline.

There are three types of asbestos: blue, brown and white. Blue and brown asbestos are linked with mesothelioma. They have been banned since the late 1980's and cannot be imported into the UK. White asbestos is now also thought to be harmful. The use of all asbestos was banned in 1999 in the UK.

I hope you find this article useful. I have created it to be used as a free resource to educate others about the dangers of asbestos, and the reality of asbestosis and mesothelioma. I researched these illnesses during a university case study. I work in the construction industry and have already encountered asbestos in various boiler houses and heat intensive environments. I can only hope there were no airborne particles.

More information of this nature is available at http://www.asbestosis-symptoms.com

Asbestos Cancer

Asbestos, a naturally occurring complex silicate, was extensively used in many industries, including insulation in ship building, manufacture of brake linings, and automobiles. Asbestos is a common name given to a group of six fibrous minerals which have their existence in two general forms, friable and non-friable. The toxic effects induced by Asbestos inhalation include desquamating alveolitis, bronchiolitis, and pulmonary fibrosis. Other more serious health ailments caused by Asbestos exposure include pleural effusion, pleural plaques, pleural calcification, and Asbestos Cancer (mesothelioma).

Asbestos Cancer, a serious health problem associated with Asbestos exposure, starts when cells found in mesothelium (a protective lining that covers most of the internal organs of the body) becomes abnormal and divide without control or order. These cancer cells may spread to damage tissues and organs. The diagnosis of Asbestos Cancer is difficult with pleural cytology. The characteristic radiographic feature of the disease is massive pleural effusion.

The disease is almost three times more common in males as compared to females. The maximum number of Asbestos Cancer cases is reported in the age group of 40 -60 years. The most common symptoms observed during the onset of Asbestos Cancer include asthenia, breathlessness, and dull chest pain. Other less frequent symptoms include cough, fever, and loss of weight. Haemoptysis is a symptom of Asbestos Cancer which is rarely observed.

The therapeutic (chemotherapy or immunotherapy) means are mostly unable to help significantly in the treatment. Even radiotherapy and pleurectomy fail as effective treatment options. The average patient?s survival after the diagnosis of Asbestos Cancer is 8 to 10 months. The most preferable option can be of preventive treatment for Asbestos Cancer. Strict industrial safety measures, proper hygiene, and regular check up of workers exposed to Asbestos must form the crucial part of serious Asbestos Cancer preventive treatment methods.

Asbestos provides detailed information on asbestos, asbestos and mesothelioma, asbestos cancer, asbestos exposure and more. Asbestos is affliated with Lung Cancer Stages

Information on Asbestos

If you have even a passing interest in the topic of asbestos, then you should take a look at the following information. This enlightening article presents some of the latest news on the subject of asbestos.

Asbestos is a term used to refer to a natural mineral that was largely used in the past as a building material due to its heat-resistance properties. There are different kinds of asbestos and the most common is the serpentine group which consists of chrysotile, also known as white asbestos. The other type of asbestos is the amphiboles group which comprises crocidolite, also called blue asbestos and amosite, known as brown asbestos.

Many years passed before asbestos was discovered to be the cause of some serious and deadly diseases such as mesothelioma, asbestosis and lung cancer. The risk posed by asbestos materials cannot be denied but it is important to highlight that asbestos become hazardous when the fibres develop into airborne and, thus, are likely to be inhaled or ingested. Consequently, asbestos materials are not a menace if they are in good condition.

If you find yourself confused by what you've read to this point, don't despair. Everything should be crystal clear by the time you finish.

Apart from the industrial uses of asbestos, this material has been widely used in house building and other appliances which now can pose a hazard to people living there or handling those devices. The reason for asbestos extensive use was the material ability to tolerate high temperatures. This material offered protection against cold, fire, noise, dust, corrosion, etc.

Health consequences associated with asbestos material were not discovered but after the damage was done. Asbestos-related diseases have a latency period of more than 40 years, in most cases, and this is the reason why the risks were known after asbestos material had been widely used.

I hope that reading the above information was both enjoyable and educational for you. Your learning process should be ongoing--the more you understand about any subject, the more you will be able to share with others.

Mesothelioma and Asbestos
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James Mahony is the founder of Mesothelioma and Asbestos Information, A site dedicated to mesothelioma and asbestos information

Asbestos - From Miracle Mineral To Mesothelioma Menace

During World War II Asbestos was hailed by many as a miracle mineral. Almost anything could be built or manufactured from this mineral. The building and construction industries used it as an additive to strengthen cement and plastics. Asbestos fibers can be separated into thin threads which do not conduct electricity and are not affected by heat or chemicals.

The four main types of asbestos are: Amosite with brown fibers, Anthophyllite with gray fibers, white Christie, and blue Crocidolite. Chrysotile has curly fibers while the other three have rod like fibers. These fibers break into dust quite easily and drift in the air. They can stick on skin, clothing, and can easily be swallowed or inhaled.

Use of asbestos skyrocketed during World War II. Shipbuilding used asbestos extensively in freighters and support vessels to insulate boilers, steam pipes and hot water pipes. Asbestos became the miracle construction material as it was easily obtained, processed, and transported.

After WWII cars used asbestos in break shoes and clutch pads. Asbestos found its way into residential and industrial building materials, water supply, sewage materials, ceiling and floor tiles, and vermiculite garden materials to name a few products.

In the 1970's the U.S Consumer Product Safety Commission banned the use of asbestos in several products that could release asbestos fibers into the environment during use, following the discoveries of the health dangers of asbestos dust inhalation. Regulations governing the use of asbestos and concern of public opinion since 1970 have created a significant drop in the use of asbestos in the United States.

In 1989 all new uses of asbestos were banned by the Environmental Protection Agency while any old uses before that year were still permitted. The EPA suggested that schools inspect for damaged asbestos and eliminate any exposure or enclose it in protective barriers. Vermiculite, widely used in horticulture, became a concern of the EPA that recommended outdoor use, limiting the amount of dust used, and keeping vermiculite damp.

Asbestos may create serious health hazards such as coughing, lung damage, shortness of breath, and lung cancer. Most people do not become sick in the early stages of development, but usually need continued exposure, often on jobs such as mining, milling, manufacturing asbestos products, and building construction. Firemen, demolition workers, drywall removers, and any other workers in trades that involve destruction of buildings, ships, and automobiles are also exposed to the hazards and risks of asbestos.

Over a period of years continual exposure to asbestos can cause very serious health problems, such as mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is a rare type of carcinoma of the membrane that lines numerous cavities of the body, including the lungs, abdomen and heart, and has been associated with exposure to asbestos dust. In mesothelioma, the cells of the mesothelioma metastasize and damage adjacent organs and tissues.

Risk of developing mesothelioma takes a long period of time, often as long as twenty-five or thirty-five years before full blown symptoms appear. Not all workers who have been exposed will develop diseases caused by asbestos, but workers who have been exposed to it may bring fibers on their clothing, hair, shoes, and skin home to their families. To circumvent this risk, most industries require workers to bathe and change their clothing before they leave work.

Many studies have been conducted involving the risks of diseases caused by exposure to asbestos. The results of one such study involving the risks of smoking and exposure to asbestos proved extremely hazardous.

For further information on asbestos, such as risks, research, lawsuits and disease support groups visit:

http://www.asbestos-headquarters.com

Grant Davis, is a freelance writer and has worked in a variety of fields, including teaching. Feel free to use the above article as long as it is reprinted in its entirety.