What Are the Effects of Asbestos on the Body?

    /24-7PressRelease/ - WASHINGTON, DC, May 02, 2008 - Asbestos causes asbestosis, mesothelioma, pleural plaques and lung cancer. Risk factors depend on four main variables:

1. Length of exposure
2. Length of time since 1stexposure
3. Smoking
4. Individual response to asbestos fibers

• Asbestosis- The result of high levels of asbestos breathed into the lungs, causing scar-like tissue. Symptoms include persistent chest pain, shortness of breath, a crackling sound when breathing and coughing. Symptoms appear from 10 to 30 years after the initial asbestos exposure.

• Lung Cancer-Can occur from 20 to 40 years after initial asbestos exposure. It is the most common cancer caused by asbestos exposure and risk of developing lung cancer greatly increases with smoking.

• Mesothelioma- This is the second most common kind of cancer caused by asbestos exposure. Mesothelioma almost always proves fatal and death usually occurs within a few months of diagnosis. Symptoms are similar to other forms of asbestos exposure and may not appear until 20 to 40 years after exposure.

• Pleural Plaques—Pleural plaques are changes in the thin lining (the pleura) surrounding the lungs and are caused by asbestos exposure. These are not as serious as lung cancer or mesothelioma but can certainly cause discomfort and difficulty breathing.

• Other Forms of Cancer—Some studies now show that asbestos exposure may lead to other forms of cancer. Research is ongoing.

Why is Asbestos Harmful?

Asbestos is particularly harmful during construction or demolition when the asbestos fibers become damaged, breaking down into small pieces that float through the air undetected and are inhaled or swallowed. The fibers move to the lungs and lodge in the lining. While some of the asbestos fibers may be expelled through coughing or other means, some stay lodged and reach deeper area of the lungs. Scarring begins and progresses long after exposure has stopped. This is often the reason for such a delay in detection of symptoms, and also explains why it takes years to feel the effects of exposure.

How Might I Be Exposed to Asbestos?

There are 4 basic ways you may be exposed to asbestos:

1. Breathing it in the air (low levels inhaled)
2. Being within the vicinity of a construction or demolition site and breathing in the asbestos fibers (high levels inhaled)
3. Breathing in asbestos fibers near an asbestos waste site or an industry that uses asbestos (high levels inhaled)
4. Drinking water that may contain asbestos—this could be from the pipes that carry the water or from a natural source that has been polluted.
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Who is at risk?

Anyone exposed to asbestos may be at risk. Some individuals are more at risk than others including:

• Employees working in asbestos related businesses, such as asbestos mining, and manufacturing of asbestos products.
• Employees working in an environment where asbestos may be used. These include brake repair specialists, chemical manufacturing employees, demolition workers, construction laborers and even firefighters.
• Those who do not work directly with asbestos but work in high exposure area.
• Lower risk exists within family members of heavily exposed employees. Family members are at risk through exposure from the asbestos dust that carries in the house from shoes, clothing, hair and even the skin of those who work in an asbestos heavy environment.

If you or a loved one has been exposed to asbestos and has subsequently suffered adverse effects in the Washington, D.C. area, please contact the mesothelioma lawyers at Parker, Dumler & Kiely today to schedule your initial consultation.

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