| Asbestos and Respiratory Diseases | | | | respiratory condition, it's important to |
| Could your job be making you sick? For | | | | talk with your doctor. You should also |
| too many workers, that's a real danger. | | | | start keeping a written record of things |
| The air they breathe on the job is a | | | | you notice about your condition, |
| health hazard. According to the Centers | | | | according to AAFP, including: |
| for Disease Control and Prevention | | | | * when symptoms started |
| (CDC), occupationally-related airway | | | | * how often they occur |
| diseases, including asthma and chronic | | | | * if they get worse or better at certain |
| obstructive pulmonary disease | | | | times of the day or on certain days |
| (COPD), pose a significant public health | | | | * what potential hazards you may be |
| threat. CDC says nearly 30 percent of | | | | exposed to at work, as well as what |
| COPD and adult asthma may be | | | | precautions you have been told to follow |
| attributable to occupational exposure | | | | when around these hazards |
| and more than 20 million U.S. workers | | | | * what days and shifts you work and how |
| are exposed to substances that can cause | | | | these relate to the way you feel |
| airway diseases. | | | | You can also talk with other workers to |
| Asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary | | | | see if they're experiencing unusual |
| disease (primarily chronic bronchitis | | | | symptoms, as well as your supervisors. |
| and emphysema) are diseases of the lung | | | | Depending on the type of exposure, |
| airways. CDC says both diseases can be | | | | solutions can include more ventilation |
| brought on by exposure to irritants in | | | | as well as changes in work practices and |
| the workplace. In addition, many workers | | | | or machinery. It's also important that |
| are unaware that pre-existing asthma and | | | | anyone who is concerned about lung |
| COPD may be worsened by the work | | | | exposure quit smoking if they haven't |
| environment. | | | | already done so. |
| On-the-job hazards | | | | The Dangers of Asbestos |
| What kind of irritants are we talking | | | | Learn the dangers of asbestos. Before |
| about? Here's are some examples, | | | | 1972 the most common element used to |
| compiled from CDC, the American Lung | | | | insulate buildings was asbestos. Only |
| Association (ALA), and the American | | | | later did we find out that breathing in |
| Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP): | | | | the element could result in lung |
| * Asbestos was commonly used as an | | | | restrictive illnesses and death. |
| insulator and fire retardant until | | | | Until 1972, most of the buildings in |
| scientists discovered that asbestos | | | | this country were constructed with |
| fibers are deadly, potentially causing | | | | asbestos, including schools, offices and |
| asbestosis ( scarring of lung tissues) | | | | homes. At the time, no one had any idea |
| and lung cancer. Workers most at risk of | | | | that when inhaled asbestos was deadly. |
| asbestos exposure include those in | | | | Today, people and asbestos precariously |
| mining, construction, demolition, | | | | coexist in old buildings. However, it is |
| shipyards, tiling, electrical | | | | only when asbestos is disturbed that it |
| insulation, and paving, among other | | | | becomes a health threat to human beings. |
| industries. ALA says it can be years | | | | Asbestos is a naturally occurring |
| between exposure to asbestos and | | | | material that was used commonly in |
| development of symptoms. | | | | buildings for insulation. Asbestos |
| * Dust can come from such things as | | | | fibers are exceptionally strong and are |
| wood, cotton, coal, asbestos, silica and | | | | resistant to heat. Asbestos is commonly |
| talc. ALA says dusts from textile | | | | found in ceiling tiles, flooring and |
| processing cause byssinosis ("brown | | | | pipes. |
| lung"), a chronic condition involving | | | | Asbestos only becomes a danger when it |
| obstruction of the small airways. Coal | | | | is disturbed, causing the fibers to |
| dust causes coal workers' pneumoconiosis | | | | become airborne. This is commonly |
| or "black lung," also an obstruction of | | | | referred to as friable asbestos, while |
| the small airways. Silica affects | | | | intact asbestos is referred to as |
| workers in mines, foundries, blasting | | | | non-friable asbestos. Friable asbestos |
| operations, and stone, glass, and clay | | | | has become airborne and the human lungs |
| manufacturing. | | | | are now susceptible to breathing in the |
| Fumes can be given off by metals that | | | | airborne fibers. Research has yet to |
| are heated and cooled quickly, according | | | | determine a safe level of exposure to |
| to AAFP. Examples of jobs that involve | | | | asbestos, but one thing is for certain; |
| exposure to such fumes are welding, | | | | the more prolonged the exposure, the |
| smelting, furnace work, pottery making, | | | | greater the risk becomes for developing |
| plastics manufacture and rubber | | | | an asbestos related disease. |
| operations. | | | | Doctors often compare the dangers |
| * Toxins found in various grains are a | | | | associated with asbestos to those of |
| risk for hundreds of thousands of | | | | smoking cigarettes. The more cigarettes |
| agricultural workers. Moldy hay can | | | | one smokes, the greater the danger for |
| produce flu-like symptoms according to | | | | developing lung cancer. Similarly, the |
| AAFP. Farm workers are also at risk of | | | | more one is exposed to asbestos, the |
| exposure to hair, feathers, animal | | | | greater the chance for developing an |
| dander, and bacteria. | | | | asbestos related disease. This is why |
| * Anthrax is caused by the bacterium | | | | asbestos poisoning is often called an |
| Bacillus anthracis. It most commonly | | | | occupational hazard disease, because the |
| occurs in hoofed mammals such as sheep, | | | | people who commonly work with the |
| cattle, horses, and goats. Farm | | | | material are the most at risk for |
| workers,veterinarians, and those who | | | | developing an asbestos related disease. |
| work tanning hides or processing wool | | | | There are three diseases that are |
| are at risk of contracting the disease | | | | triggered by inhaling asbestos fibers: |
| by inhaling spores of the bacterium. In | | | | asbestosis, mesothelioma, and lung |
| addition to inhaled anthrax, there is | | | | cancer. Asbestosis is caused when |
| also a skin form of anthrax. | | | | asbestos fibers are inhaled and become |
| * Gases such as formaldehyde, ammonia, | | | | trapped in the lungs. In response, the |
| and chlorine, can be found in jobs where | | | | body tries to dissolve the fibers by |
| chemical reactions occur and in jobs | | | | producing an acid. While not destroying |
| with high heat operations, such as | | | | the fibers, the acid serves to scar the |
| welding and furnace work. | | | | lung tissue. Eventually the scarring can |
| * Vapors can be given off by solvents, | | | | become so severe that the lungs become |
| and usually irritate the nose and throat | | | | unable to function. The time from |
| first, before they affect the lungs | | | | exposure to the manifestation of |
| according to AAFP. | | | | asbestosis in most patients is between |
| * Paints, lacquers, hair spray, | | | | 25 to 40 years. Mesothelioma is a cancer |
| pesticides, cleaning products, acids, | | | | of the outside tissue of the lungs. |
| and solvents can also cause damage to | | | | This cancer is solely linked to |
| the airways. | | | | asbestos. The time from exposure to |
| * Latex allergies have become a major | | | | manifestation of mesothelioma is from 15 |
| problem for health care workers, as a | | | | to 35 years. Cancer of the lungs can |
| result of increased use of protective | | | | also be caused by exposure to asbestos. |
| gloves. CDC says studies show that over | | | | However, the chances of developing lung |
| one in fifty healthcare workers have | | | | cancer from asbestos are greatly |
| developed latex-related asthma. | | | | increased with smoking. The exposure to |
| * If someone is exposed to carcinogens | | | | manifestation period for lung cancer |
| or irritants at work, smoking can make | | | | from asbestos exposure is from 15 to 35 |
| things much worse. ALA says smokers who | | | | years. |
| are exposed to such carcinogens as | | | | Despite many common myths, initial |
| asbestos and radiation, greatly increase | | | | exposure cannot be detected by medical |
| their chances of getting lung cancer and | | | | x-rays or physiological symptoms. |
| other lung diseases. | | | | Asbestos exposure does not cause |
| Symptoms | | | | headaches, fever, or muscle aches. The |
| Exposure to any of the above substances | | | | symptoms of exposure go unnoticed for at |
| can produce a wide range of symptoms. | | | | least 15 years. However, at the time of |
| These can range from a runny nose and | | | | manifestation, doctors can determine |
| scratchy throat, to bronchitis, | | | | asbestos exposure. |
| persistent cough, fever, and problems | | | | The risk of being exposed to asbestos is |
| breathing. AAFP says that if a worker | | | | increased by the presence of |
| develops unusual symptoms after | | | | construction. Work on ceilings and |
| switching to a new job, for example, or | | | | flooring can cause the asbestos to |
| after being at a particular job for | | | | become friable. This is why non-friable |
| awhile, this could indicate a | | | | asbestos is often recommended to be left |
| work-related disorder. | | | | in tact and not removed. Asbestos does |
| In addition, if someone develops asthma | | | | not just chip away or decompose, it must |
| for the first time as an adult, it could | | | | be physically disturbed to pose a threat |
| be related to something at their job. | | | | to human health. |
| Asthma symptoms include wheezing, a | | | | If asbestos is required to be removed, |
| persistent dry cough or trouble | | | | either before or during a construction |
| breathing. Emphysema is another | | | | project, or due to an accidental |
| condition that can develop after | | | | disturbance, state laws require that |
| exposure to workplace dangers, including | | | | certain precautions and procedures take |
| coal, asbestos or silica dust. Symptoms | | | | place. These regulations aim to ensure |
| include cough, fatigue, chest tightness | | | | that the appropriate steps are taken |
| and difficulty breathing. | | | | during an abatement procedure, and all |
| If you suspect a work-related | | | | health and safety precautions are taken. |