People can be exposed to asbestos in the workplace, their communities, or their homes. If products containing asbestos is concerned, tiny asbestos fibers into the air. When asbestos fibers are inhaled and they may be trapped in the lungs and remain there for a long time. Over time, these fibers can accumulate and cause scarring and inflammation that can affect breathing and lead to serious health problems (6).
Asbestos is classified as a known human carcinogen (a substance that causes cancer) by the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services, EPA, and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (2, 3, 7, 8). Research has shown that exposure to asbestos may increase the risk of lung cancer and mesothelioma (cancer is relatively rare thin membrane that lines the chest and abdomen). Although rare, mesothelioma is the most common form of cancer linked to asbestos exposure. In addition to lung cancer and mesothelioma, some studies have shown an association between asbestos exposure and gastrointestinal and colorectal cancers, as well as increased risk of bladder cancer, kidney, esophagus and throat bile (3, 4). Nevertheless, the evidence is convincing.
Asbestos also may increase the risk of asbestosis (an inflammatory condition affecting the lungs, which can cause shortness of breath, coughing, and permanent lung damage) and other benign lung and pleural disorders, including plaques (changes in the membrane that surrounds the lung lung), pleural thickening, pleural effusion and benign (abnormal collection of fluid between the thin layer of tissue that lines the lungs and chest cavity wall). Although plaques are not precursors to lung cancer, evidence suggests that people with pleural disease caused by asbestos exposure may be at increased risk of lung cancer (2, 9).
Who is at risk of asbestos-related diseases?
Any person exposed to asbestos at some time during their life. Low levels of asbestos present in the water, air and soil. However, most people do not become ill from their exposure. People who suffer from asbestos are usually those who are exposed to on a regular basis, often in jobs where they work directly with the material or through substantial environmental contact.
Since the early 1940s, millions of American workers have been exposed to asbestos. Health hazards from asbestos fibers have been recognized in workers exposed in shipbuilding trades, asbestos mining and milling, manufacturing of asbestos textiles and other asbestos products, insulation work in construction and building industries, as well as a number of other professions. Demolition workers, drywall removal, asbestos removal workers, firefighters, and automobile workers also may be exposed to asbestos fibers. Studies evaluating cancer risk have a car mechanics exposed to asbestos through brake repair, limited but in general, evidence suggests that there is no safe level of exposure to asbestos (3, 8). As a result of government legislation and improvement of work practices, today's workers (those without previous exposure) are likely to face smaller risks than those exposed in the past.
Individuals participating in the recovery, rescue and cleanup at the site 11 September 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center (WTC) in New York City are another group at risk of developing asbestos-related diseases. Because asbestos is used in the construction of the North Tower of the World Trade Center when the building was attacked, hundreds of tons of asbestos released into the atmosphere. Those at greatest risk include firefighters, police, paramedics, construction workers, and volunteers working in the rubble at Ground Zero. In other risk include residents in the immediate vicinity of the WTC towers and those who attend the nearest school. These people should be conducted to determine the long-term health effects from exposure to them (10).
One study found that nearly 70 percent of WTC rescue and recovery workers suffered new or worsened respiratory symptoms while performing work at the World Trade Center site. This study describes the results of the WTC Worker and Volunteer Medical Screening Program, which was established to identify and characterize the possible health effects related to the WTC response. Results showed that about 28 percent of the subjects underwent lung tests abnormal, and 61 percent of those without previous health problems developed respiratory symptoms (11). Nevertheless, it is important to note that these symptoms may be associated with exposure to other components of the asbestos waste.
Although it is clear that health risks from asbestos exposure increase with exposure and severe with longer exposure time, investigators have found asbestos-related diseases in individuals with only brief exposures. As a rule, those who develop asbestos-related diseases show no signs of illness for a long time after their first exposure. This can take anywhere from 10 to 40 years and more than symptoms of asbestos-related condition to appear (2).
There is some evidence that family members of workers heavily exposed to asbestos face an increased risk of developing mesothelioma (6). This risk is thought to result from exposure to asbestos fibers home on shoes, clothing, skin, hair and workers. To reduce these exposures, Federal law regulate workplace practices to limit the possibility of asbestos being brought home in this way. Some employees may be required to shower and change clothes before they leave work, store, street clothes in separate areas of the workplace, or wash their work clothes at home separately from other clothing (2).
Cases of mesothelioma have also been seen in individuals without occupational exposure to asbestos, who lived close to asbestos mines (6).
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