What is asbestos? What is asbestos? Chrysotile, or white asbestos (curly, flexible white fibers), which accounts for about 90 percent of the asbestos currently used in industry; Anthophyllite (brittle white fibers). Asbestos fibers are resistant to heat and most chemicals. Because of this, asbestos fibers are used for a wide range of manufactured goods, including insulation products, roofing and siding shingles, ceiling and floor tiles, paper products, heat-resistant clothing, asbestos cement products, friction products (automobile clutch, brake, and transmission parts), textiles, packaging, gaskets, and coatings. Today asbestos is still used in gaskets, brakes, roofing and other materials. Often the labels will not say "asbestos" but will refer to "fibers" or be called "fibrated." Asbestos fiber masses tend to break easily into a dust composed of tiny particles that can float in the air and stick to clothes. The fibers may be easily inhaled or swallowed and can cause serious health problems, including asbestosis, lung cancer, mesothelioma and various cancers of the digestive tract. There is no known safe exposure to asbestos. Where is asbestos found? How is asbestos used? Asbestos cement sheet and pipe products used for water supply and sewage piping, roofing and siding, casings for electrical wires, fire protection material, chemical tanks, electrical switchboards and components, and residential and industrial building materials; In the late 1970s, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission banned the use of asbestos in wallboard patching compounds and gas fireplaces because these products released excessive amounts of asbestos fibers into the environment. In addition, asbestos was voluntarily withdrawn by manufacturers of electric hair dryers. These and other regulatory actions, coupled with widespread public concern about the hazards of asbestos, have resulted in a significant annual decline in U.S. use of asbestos. Domestic use of asbestos amounted to about 560,000 metric tons in 1979, but it had dropped to about 55,000 metric tons by 1989. What happens to asbestos when it enters the environment? Why is asbestos harmful? How might I be exposed to asbestos? Breathing higher levels in air while working in industries that make or use asbestos products or near a building that contains asbestos products and is being torn down or renovated. Breathing higher levels in air near an asbestos related industry or near an asbestos containing waste site. Drinking water containing asbestos from natural sources or from asbestos containing cement pipes in drinking water distribution systems. How can asbestos affect my health? Who is at risk? Although it is known that the risk to workers increases with heavier exposure and longer exposure time, investigators have found asbestos related diseases in some shipyard workers exposed to high levels of asbestos fibers for only brief periods (as little as 1 or 2 months). Even workers who may not have worked directly with asbestos but whose jobs were located near contaminated areas have developed asbestosis, mesothelioma, and other cancers associated with asbestos exposure. Generally, workers who develop asbestos related diseases show no signs of illness until many years after first exposure. For example, the time between first exposure to asbestos and the appearance of lung cancer is generally 15 years or more; a lag of 30 to 35 years is not unusual. The lag period for the development of mesothelioma and asbestosis is even greater, sometimes as long as 40 to 45 years. There is also some evidence that family members of workers heavily exposed to asbestos face an increased risk of developing mesothelioma and perhaps other asbestos-related diseases. This risk is thought to result from exposure to asbestos dust brought into the home on the shoes, clothing, skin, and hair of workers. What is Asbestosis? Asbestosis is a disease resulting from a slow buildup of permanent scar tissue in the lungs and in the pleural membrane that surrounds the lungs, which is caused by breathing high levels of asbestos fibers. People with asbestosis have shortness of breath, often along with a cough and sometimes heart enlargement. In addition, asbestosis increases the risk of dangerous lung infections. Asbestosis is a serious disease and can eventually lead to disability or death. How likely is asbestos to cause cancer? It is known that asbestos causes cancer in people. There are two types of cancer caused by exposure to asbestos: cancer of the lung tissue itself and mesothelioma, a cancer of the membrane that surrounds the lung and other internal organs. Both of these are usually fatal. These diseases don't develop immediately, but show up only after many years. How does smoking affect the risk of developing cancer from asbestos? Many studies have shown that the combination of smoking and asbestos exposure is particularly hazardous. Cigarette smokers, on the average, are 10 times as likely to develop lung cancer as are nonsmokers. For nonsmokers who work with asbestos, the risk is about five times greater than for those in the general population. By contrast, smokers who also are heavily exposed to asbestos are as much as 90 times more likely to develop lung cancer than are non-exposed individuals who do not smoke. Smoking does not appear to increase the risk of mesothelioma, however. There is evidence that quitting smoking will reduce the risk of lung cancer among asbestos-exposed workers, perhaps by as much as half or more after at least 5 years without smoking. People who were exposed to asbestos on the job at any time during their life or who suspect they may have been exposed should not smoke. If they smoke, they should stop. What is mesothelioma? Malignant pleural mesotheliomais a cancer of the cells of the pleura, a lining around the surface of the lungs and ribs. The spread of the tumor over the pleura causes pleural thickening which can reduce the flexibility of the pleura and encase the lungs in an increasingly restrictive girdle. With the lungs restricted, they get smaller and less functional, and breathing becomes more difficult. At first a person with mesothelioma may be breathless only when he or she exercises, but as the tumor grows and compresses the lungs, he or she can become short of breath even while resting. In addition, as the tumor grows outward, it can invade the chest wall and ribs, becoming extremely painful. Pleural mesothelioma is sometimes diagnosed by coincidence, before there are any symptoms, such as when tumors have been discovered through routine chest x-rays. However, when symptoms occur, they may include shortness of breath, weakness, weight loss, loss of appetite, chest pains, lower back pains, persistent coughing, difficulty in swallowing, alone or in combination. An initial medical examination often shows an accumulation of fluid (a pleural effusion) in the pleural space - the area between the lungs and the chest wall. The first step in detecting pleural mesothelioma is, typically, a chest x-ray, or a CT scan. This is often followed by a bronchoscopy, using a viewing scope to look inside the lungs. The actual diagnosis usually requires obtaining a piece of tissue through a biopsy. This could be a needle biopsy, an open biopsy, or through a tube with a camera (thoracoscopy or chest scope.) If an abnormality is seen through the camera then a tissue sample can be taken at the same time, using the same tube. This is a hospital procedure that requires anesthesia, but is usually not painful. The tissue sample is tested by a pathologist, who will use special lab stains to differentiate between mesothelioma, and other diseases, such as lung cancer. As of yet, there is no known cure for malignant pleural mesothelioma. The prognosis depends on various factors, including the size and stage of the tumor, the extent of the tumor, the cell type, and whether or not the tumor responds to treatment. Malignant peritoneal mesothelioma is a tumor of the thin membrane of mesothelial cells which cover many of the organs in the abdomen. As with pleural mesothelioma, the only known cause of peritoneal mesothelioma in the United States is previous exposure to asbestos. There are at least two explanations for how asbestos fibers can get into the peritoneum. The first is that fibers caught by the mucus of the trachea and bronchi end up being swallowed. Some of them lodge in the intestinal tract and from there they can move through the intestinal wall into the peritoneum. The second explanation is that fibers that lodge in the lungs can move into the lymphatic system and be transported to the peritoneum. Peritoneal mesotheliomas account for about one-fifth of all mesotheliomas. The symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma typically include abdominal pains, weakness, weight loss, loss of appetite, nausea, and abdominal swelling. Fluid often accumulates in the peritoneal space, a condition known as ascites. Over time the wasting symptoms can become more and more severe. The growing tumor can exert increasing pressure on the organs in the abdomen, leading to bowel obstruction and distention. If the tumor presses upward, it can impair breathing capacity. If the tumor pushes against areas with many nerve fibers, and the bowel distends, the amount of pain can increase. Abdominal x-rays and CT scans are, typically, the first step toward detecting peritoneal mesothelioma. The actual diagnosis is typically achieved by obtaining a biopsy of the tissue during a peritoneoscopy, and having a pathologist examine the tissue, using microscopic analysis of specialized stains. There is no known cure, for peritoneal mesothelioma. The prognosis depends on various factors, including the size and stage of the tumor, its extent, the cell type, and whether or not the tumor responds to treatment. Who needs to be examined? As noted earlier, the symptoms of asbestos-related diseases may not become apparent for many decades after exposure. If any of the following symptoms develop, a physical examination should be scheduled without delay:
What are the treatments for asbestos related diseases? Treatment of cancer is tailored to the individual patient and may include surgery, anticancer drugs, radiation, or combinations of these therapies. Information about cancer treatment is available from the National Cancer Institute-supported Cancer Information Service, whose tollfree telephone number is 18004CANCER. How can workers protect themselves? Workers who are concerned about asbestos exposure in the workplace should discuss the situation with other employees, their union, and their employers. If necessary, OSHA can provide more information or make an inspection. Information regarding OSHA's Regional and Area can be located on the internet. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) is another Federal agency that is concerned with asbestos exposure in the workplace. The Institute conducts asbestos-related research, evaluates work sites for possible health hazards, and makes safety recommendations. In addition, NIOSH distributes publications on the health effects of asbestos exposure and can suggest additional sources of information. The address is Office of Information, National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, 4676 Columbia Parkway/Mailstop C19, Cincinnati, OH 45226. NIOSH's tollfree telephone number is 1-800-35NIOSH (1-800-356-4674). What should people who have been exposed to asbestos do?
Has the federal government made recommendations to protect human health? Can I file an asbestos-related lawsuit? Be aware that statutes of limitations vary in states other than West Virginia. When should I contact a lawyer about an asbestos-related lawsuit? Are asbestos lawsuits handled as class actions? Can I file a lawsuit if a family member has died from an asbestos-related disease? Where can I get more information about asbestos-related disease and asbestos lawsuits? Free attorney consultation: If you or a family member has been diagnosed with a deadly disease such as lung cancer, mesothelioma, leukemia, lymphoma or multiple myeloma, please contact our lawyers as soon as possible. We will investigate your case at no cost, and you will not have to pay any attorney's fees unless we obtain a recovery for you. |
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Asbestos Frequently Asked Questions
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The Wagner Building
2001 Main Street, Suite 600
Wheeling, WV 26003
Phone: 304-233-0777
Fax: 304-233-0774
Toll Free: 800-625-2889
