Asbestos-Related Illness: Still a Problem?

Most people have heard that exposure to asbestos can be harmful to our health. You probably remember seeing news reports about the dangers of asbestos that gets into our lungs, or you might have seen ads for asbestos-removal companies. But what exactly is asbestos, and is it still in use after all these years?

Asbestos is the name of a group of naturally occurring minerals that includes chrysotile, amosite, crocidolite, tremolite asbestos, anthophyllite asbestos, and actinolite asbestos. These heat-resistant minerals are used in dozens of products from building materials to car and truck brakes, and have made our lives safer and easier in countless ways. But unfortunately, when microscopic asbestos fibers are inhaled, these helpful minerals can become a health hazard. Exposure to asbestos can lead to serious damage of the lungs and other organs.

Most of us are exposed to asbestos in reasonably small doses in our homes or offices. But those who work in building construction, shipping, mining, automotive brake and clutch repair and other industries that use asbestos have a much higher exposure rate. For this reason, those workers have increased chances of acquiring two principal types of cancer: cancer of the lung tissue itself and mesothelioma, a cancer of the thin membrane that surrounds the lung and other internal organs.

"Exposure to asbestos can result in severe lung disease," says Richard M. Effros, MD, Professor Emeritus of Medicine (Pulmonary Medicine) at the Medical College of Wisconsin. Accumulation of excess quantities of asbestos within the lungs may cause the development of lung scarring or fibrosis, which is referred to as asbestosis. This disorder is progressive and results in irreversible restriction of the lungs with increasing shortness of breath and decrease in oxygen levels in the arterial blood.

And that’s not all. "A second consequence of asbestos exposure," says Dr. Effros, "is the appearance of a mesothelioma, a tumor of the membranes which surround the lungs. This rare and very malignant tumor is difficult to treat and when found, it is usually attributable to asbestos." Dr. Effros reports that asbestos-related illness becomes evident decades after the exposure has occurred, making diagnosis and treatment very difficult.

Where Is Asbestos Found?
"You may have asbestos in your home, wrapped around older furnaces and hot water pipes," Dr. Effros says. "It was also used in ceiling and floor tiles and the exterior shingles of some homes and was used at one time for insulating houses." Outside the home, he says, "the most serious asbestos exposures occurred in the shipping, insulation, power company and asbestos mining industries. However, it was also incorporated into automotive brake pads and on the girders of high rise buildings."

From the US Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), here is a brief list of everyday products that can contain asbestos:

• Cement pipes, wallboard and siding
• Asphalt floor tile
• Vinyl flooring and wall covering
• Construction glues
• Acoustic and decorative plaster
• Duct, pipe, and boiler insulation
• Heating and electrical ducts
• Ceiling tiles
• Sprayed and blown-in insulation
• Fireproofing materials
• Laboratory gloves
• Elevator equipment panels
• Chalkboards
• Roofing felt and shingles
• Caulking, putties, joint compound, spackling compound
• Textured paints and coatings

Symptoms
Symptoms of asbestos-related illness include shortness of breath, cough, chest pain and bloody sputum. Asbestos workers may also develop "plaques" on the surface of the lungs which are visible on chest X-rays. These usually do not cause problems but they may be the first indication that a patient has had significant exposure to asbestos.

Who Is at Risk?
Those most at risk for asbestos-related illness are those who have had a good deal of exposure to asbestos, such as employees of asbestos-removal companies. Additionally, workers in the construction industry often are exposed to asbestos when they disturb asbestos-containing materials during renovation or demolition. Shipyard workers can be exposed to asbestos the same way, when renovating or demolishing ships containing asbestos.

Custodial workers risk asbestos exposure through their contact with deteriorating materials in buildings that contain asbestos. In any case, Dr. Effros has a warning to one group in particular: those who have been exposed to asbestos and who are also smokers are especially at risk for asbestos-related illness. "Asbestos exposure dramatically increases the likelihood of lung cancer among smokers," he says.

Sealing and Removal
"Inhalation of asbestos fibers is much more likely if the asbestos is fragmented and becomes airborne," notes Dr. Effros. Therefore, handling and disposal of asbestos should be performed by specialists who deal with asbestos abatement problems. In some cases, the asbestos must be removed, but it is also possible to seal the exposed insulation and thereby minimize the formation of airborne particles.

If you are attempting to dispose of asbestos-containing products on your own, be sure you understand all procedures for doing so, including containment, wetting and disposal. The Utah State Department of Environmental Quality has detailed instructions on their website called Asbestos Removal Procedures for Home Owners. It is worth reading whether you are planning to attempt the process yourself or are having it done professionally.

The Good News: Usage is Down
Fortunately, asbestos-related illness is also becoming less common, because of stricter laws governing the use of asbestos. In July of 1989, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) banned the use of asbestos in products that have not historically contained asbestos, otherwise referred to as "new uses" of asbestos.

For asbestos workers or those who were exposed before the new laws took effect, asbestos-related illness is still a very serious issue. "Treatment of illnesses related to asbestos is very difficult," Dr. Effros says, but there is some good news: "The presence of asbestos in our environment is still widespread, but has decreased as use of this material has been curtailed."

With the stricter legislation and our own careful treatment of asbestos-containing products, asbestos-related illness may someday become a thing of the past.

P.J. Early
HealthLink Contributing Writer

This article includes information from the US Department of Labor/Occupational Safety & Health Administration, the US Environmental Protection Agency and the Utah State Department of Environmental Quality.