According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Asbestos is characterized as a “naturally occurring, fibrous silicate minerals mined for their useful properties such as thermal insulation, chemical and thermal stability, and high tensile strength. Asbestos is commonly used as an acoustic insulator, and in thermal insulation, fireproofing and other building materials.” Over the course of time, materials made from asbestos may become damaged or simply wear down, which in turn, release harmful fiber particles into the air. When inhaled, these particles reach the lungs, and create major health issue for those who come in contact with the material. This article focuses on the diseases and health risk that can result from exposure to asbestos products.
As previously stated, asbestos is inhaled from the air as tiny fibrous particles that are invisible to the naked eye. You may not be aware that asbestos is present in the environment and exposure to the harmful material could be prolonged, therefore increasing the risk of developing health problems from asbestos exposure. The EPA suggests that there are three primary health issues arising from prolonged exposure to asbestos. They are; mesothelioma, lung cancer, and asbestosis.
The National Cancer Institute describes mesothelioma, as a rare type of cancer that attacks the mesothelium .The mesothelium is a membrane covering which protects many of the internal organs of the human body. It is composed of two layers. This two-layered membrane produces a lubricating fluid that allows the moving organs to smoothly operate against nearby structures. The lungs are an example of an organ that relies heavily on the meothelium, due to the constant expansion and compression actions of the organs. When mesothelioma develops in the human body, cells within the mesothelium begin to act abnormally, dividing without order, making it a cancerous disease. These cancerous cells can then metastasize to other parts of the body, causing mesothelioma to spread to other organs that are surrounded by the mesothelium. Mesothelioma often first develops in the membrane linings of the lungs, heart, or stomach and has many different symptoms depending on the location it originates.
Lung cancer caused by asbestos works much the same as mesothelioma, however, the uncontrolled dividing of cells occurs with the actual lung tissue instead of the mesothelium. Symptoms such as shortness of breath, changes in breathing, anemia, and constant chest pains are a signs of the development of lung cancer, and if the patient has had prolonged exposure to asbestos products in their past, the association can lead one to conclude, that the cancer was caused by asbestos.
Finally, asbestosis is a non-cancerous disease that affects the tissue of the lungs. Asbestosis occurs when asbestos particles are inhaled and physically cut the soft tissue of the lungs. These cuts heal, however scars are left on the inside of the lungs, and based on the amount of exposure to asbestos, makes it hard for the lungs to transport oxygen into the bloodstream. Symptoms of asbestosis include shortness of breath, dry coughing, chest pains, and coughing up blood in more advanced stages.
There is no cure for mesothelioma, lung cancer caused by asbestos, or asbestosis. In the case of mesothelioma and lung cancer caused by asbestos, a CT scan and/or a MRI are helpful in diagnosing a patient. Also, a biopsy is used to confirm the diagnosis of mesothelioma in patients. Patients can go through various cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy and radiation exposure to combat the progression of the aliments. Surgery is also an option in the case of mesothelioma. If the membrane of the lungs is affected by mesothelioma, doctors can perform an operation called pneumonectomy. As for the treatment of Asbestosis, the aim is to relieve symptoms related to the illness, and prevent progression of asbestosis within the patient.
In 1989, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) officially banned the use of asbestos and asbestos materials in new construction or any other application previously using the material. However, exposure to asbestos is still a possibility due to the large use of the material before the 1989. The EPA has established guidelines for schools across the nation to inspect for asbestos and removing any damaged asbestos materials that may lead to exposure to children by means of removal or covering up the problem. Today, the EPA has strict guidelines pertaining to the demolition of buildings that are thought to have asbestos materials within, so that the release of these materials into the environment can be limited or stopped completely.
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