Health Effects of Asbestos fibers

did you know that you might be exposed to asbestos and not knowing. The long-term exposure could lead to serious health issues. This article introduces the health effects of asbestos fibers and introduces the test to ensure you are safe.

Why is asbestos dangerous?

Asbestos fibers pose a threat due to their propensity to degrade into microscopic fibers when disturbed. These microscopic fibers can stay in the air for days after being disturbed. People can breathe in these fibers while they’re in the air. They can penetrate the lungs since the fibers are so tiny and may end up in lung tissue. Inhalation of these fibers can lead to:

• lung cancer,
• asbestosis (a scarring of the lung tissue),
• mesothelioma (lung cavity lining cancer).

All of which are very serious diseases

When is asbestos dangerous?

Breathing in asbestos fibers of any kind can be deadly. It has been suggested that certain types of asbestos fibers may be less harmful than others. Many people, including medical professionals and researchers, are of the opposite opinion. Asbestos should be treated as harmful unless proven safe.

There is no way to know if asbestos is present in the air or if it is causing harm to your lungs. Coughing or sneezing is not caused by asbestos. It won’t irritate your eyes, ears, or throat. When asbestos-containing materials are damaged, disturbed, or improperly removed, asbestos fibers will get into the air. Asbestos does not produce regular dust when crushed. Asbestos is broken down into microscopic fibers that are invisible to the human eye, and you can not feel or taste them.

It is possible to detect asbestos fibers in the air. Fibers per cubic centimeter of air (f/cc) are the units used to measure this. Near the size of a sugar cube, Asbestos fibers are detected by air monitoring methods that collect air samples. According to the Minnesota Health Department, “clean air” is defined as less than 0.01 f/cc.

Asbestos enters the environment when it is released into the air. It is a danger that you may face if you go into these kinds of places. Numerous criteria determine whether asbestos exposure is hazardous to one’s health. You should consider these factors:

• Dosage (how much)
• The duration (how long)
• Your exposure route (e.g. through breathing, eating, or drinking);
• Any other chemicals to which you might be exposed.

Individual features, such as the following, can also have an impact.

1. Age
2. Gender
3. Dietary intake and consumption
4. Family traits
5. Lifestyle
6. The general state of your well-being.

How can you know that asbestos can make you sick?

Asbestos has been linked to lung cancer in both laboratory and human research. Inhaling fibers from an asbestos-containing material increases your risk of developing various deadly diseases such as:

• asbestosis
• mesothelioma
• lung cancer

Colon cancer, for example, is more likely if you’ve been exposed to asbestos.

How dangerous is asbestos?

There is no suitable level for exposure to these minerals. Products containing Asbestos are those that have more than 1 percent of these minerals.

Exposure to asbestos enhances your risk of developing an asbestos-related disease. Lung cancer and asbestosis are both dose-related illnesses. When asbestos is dose-related, it implies the more you breathe, the more sickly you are to get sick.

Mesothelioma is the only asbestos-related cancer that is distinct. Mesothelioma can be caused by microscopic levels of asbestos in the body. The dust that asbestos workers brought home on their garments has caused mesothelioma in their families.

How long will it take to get sick from asbestos fibers?

There is a latency period for all asbestos-related disorders. The latency time is the period it takes for you to become ill after being exposed to asbestos. Asbestos-related disorders have a latency period of 10-40 years. During the latency phase, you won’t experience any discomfort or become ill at all. After the latency period is passed, you will become unwell if you have been exposed to asbestos sickness.

Asbestos-related diseases do not affect everyone who is exposed to the fibers. Asbestos exposure, on the other hand, increases the likelihood of developing an asbestos-related disease. Currently, there are no available treatments for any of the asbestos-related diseases that have been discovered so far. Most of these illnesses have no known cure. You must never breathe in asbestos fibers. Most asbestos-related disorders can only be prevented rather than treated.

Is there any way of understanding if I have been exposed to asbestos?

A chest x-ray is the most common test for determining whether or not you’ve been exposed to asbestos. Although x-rays cannot see asbestos fibers, they can pick up on early indicators of asbestos-related lung illness. Detecting lung alterations can also be done with other tests like a CAT scan or lung scanning.

Exposure to asbestos can result in a variety of deadly diseases, including the following:

Mesothelioma

It is a cancer of the lining of the lungs and stomach (mesothelium) that is caused by exposure to asbestos (peritoneum). It is usually caused by asbestos exposure, and by the time it is discovered, it is mostly considered fatal.

Asbestos-related lung cancer

Lung cancer caused by asbestos exposure looks and acts the same as lung cancer caused by smoking or other factors. For every mesothelioma fatality, one person develops lung cancer.

Asbestosis

A dangerous lung ailment known as asbestosis is the result of long-term, high exposure to asbestos fibers. When it’s severe, this illness can be life-threatening because of the shortness of breath it causes.

Pleural thickening

Thickening of the lungs’ pleura is a common complication following exposure to high levels of asbestos. The pleura (lung lining) thickens and swells as the disease progresses. The lung itself may be pinched if the condition worsens, which would result in shortness of breath and discomfort in the chest area.

Those who smoke and are also exposed to asbestos fibers have a significantly increased risk of acquiring lung cancer, so keep that in mind as well.

Asbestos physical test in Las Vegas

Asbestos exam involves a series of tests and examinations performed to check the health of the respiratory system of workers exposed to asbestos. The test must be completed by a supervisor or licensed physician. You can take the test every year to ensure you are safe. Southern Nevada Occupational Health Centre (SNOHC) conducts the asbestos test and other occupational tests and services in Las Vegas.

We have provided the best services to the residnest for +15 years. Give us a call at (702) 874-4769 to know more about the test and find out about other occupational health tests and services.