Asbestos and Asbestosis

While mesothelioma is the most well known illness caused by exposure to asbestos, it is not the only one. Another significant illness caused by asbestos is asbestosis. The first diagnosis of asbestosis was made in England, in 1924 following the death of a 36 year old asbestos worker.

Asbestos is a fibrous mineral that can be found in several different forms. Asbestos is known for its strength and resistance to heat. While its like to serious respiratory illnesses is now well known, asbestos is not banned in the United States. However, the use of asbestos has been extensively regulated by both state and federal laws since the mid 1970s, due to its carcinogenic properties and the other health problems it causes. The risk of exposure to asbestos is increased, however, because laws regulating the use of asbestos outside of the U.S. are often lax, so goods imported from other counties are still imported into the country.

Another common cause of exposure to asbestos is during the remediation or remodeling of older buildings, where asbestos was often used for insulation or as a fire retardant. The demolition of older buildings also poses a risk or releasing asbestos fibers into the air. Asbestos may also be found in rock and gravel used in road construction, because it is a natural mineral.

Asbestos, when viewed under a microscope, can be seen to be composed of strands of long, fine fibers. When asbestos is disturbed, portions of the fibers break off. This asbestos dust is so small that it can only be seen under a microscope. When these fibers are airborne, they can be breathed in and become lodged in the lungs. While some may be caught by the body's defense system, others are not, and work their way into the trachea and lungs, and then into the small air sacks in the lungs called the alveoli. This is where oxygen replaces carbon dioxide in the blood stream. Because the asbestos fibers are a foreign substance, the body produces cells which try to remove them. Often, due to the length of the asbestos fibers, they cannot be engulfed by the cells, causing fluid to build up in the alveoli, which in turn causes inflammation and, over time, scar tissue builds up. As the scar tissue becomes more extensive, it becomes asbestosis.

Asbestosis usually does not show up for decades after initial exposure. In its initial stages there are no visible symptoms. However, over a period of time, the affected alveoli lose their ability to exchange the carbon dioxide and oxygen. The lungs become increasingly stiff due to the scar tissue, resulting in difficulty breathing.

There is no known cure for asbestosis. The symptoms can be treated with both medication and oxygen. However, asbestosis often leads to more serious medical conditions, including pulmonary hypertension, heart failure and malignant mesothelioma.