Asbestos

Asbestos is a highly durable but dangerous mineral. From the 1930s to the early 1980s, the mineral was used widely due to its resistance to heat, fire, and sound. If asbestos fibers are breathed in or swallowed, victims can develop deadly illnesses like mesothelioma. Although asbestos has claimed hundreds of thousands of lives, it is still not banned in the U.S.

 

What Is Asbestos?

Asbestos is a naturally-occurring mineral that resists exposure to fire, sound, water, and chemicals. It is composed of millions of fibers, which bind together to create a light yet virtually indestructible material.

Asbestos is mined from natural deposits around the world. Once removed from the ground, it can be processed and developed into a large number of products.

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Since asbestos naturally resists many elements, it was used in thousands of products. Dozens of industries — and countless jobs — came to rely on asbestos.

Asbestos was used in:

• Buildings

• Construction materials

• Helicopters

• Planes

• Ships

• Vehicles

Yet, the benefits of asbestos could not outweigh one major drawback: If asbestos fibers are inhaled or swallowed, it can lead to mesothelioma, a deadly and incurable cancer.

The manufacturers of asbestos-containing products knew the health risks of asbestos decades before the public did. Instead of keeping people safe, these companies put profits first and actively concealed evidence that asbestos was dangerous.

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Mesothelioma

Asbestos exposure is the only known cause of mesothelioma, a rare cancer that can form in the linings of the lungs, heart, abdomen, or testicles.

Most cases of mesothelioma are not diagnosed until after the cancer has spread to other areas in the body, making it harder to treat. However, if mesothelioma is caught early on, patients may be able to live several years after their diagnosis.

 

How Asbestos Causes Mesothelioma

1. Exposure: When asbestos products are disturbed, the fibers may be inhaled or ingested.

2. Buildup: Then, the asbestos fibers may lodge themselves into the tissue linings of various organs.

3. Damage: Once the fibers become stuck, they damage healthy tissue.

4. Cancer: In some cases, this tissue damage causes cancerous tumors to form.

It can take 20-50 years of irritation from asbestos fibers before the symptoms of mesothelioma become noticeable. By this point, the cancer may have spread throughout the body.

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Asbestosis

Asbestosis is a non-cancerous lung disease that causes lung scarring and breathing problems. This disease forms after asbestos fibers get trapped inside the lungs.

In cases of asbestosis, the scarring does not cause cancerous tumors to form. Instead, the lung gets progressively weaker and stiffer, leading to painful symptoms such as a persistent cough, shortness of breath, and fatigue.

There is no cure for asbestosis, and treatments can only help keep affected patients comfortable. Asbestosis worsens over time and can be fatal.

 

Lung Cancer

Asbestos may cause lung cancer if the fibers get trapped in the lungs and cause the formation of malignant (cancerous) tumors.

Approximately 4,000 cases of lung cancer diagnosed each year are caused by asbestos exposure.

While lung cancer can be deadly, there are treatment options if it is caught early on. Lung cancer tumors tend to appear as growths, meaning that they can be identified and removed, potentially increasing survival time.

 

Additional Types of Asbestos-Related Diseases

Mesothelioma, asbestosis, and lung cancer are only a few negative health effects linked to asbestos exposure.

Other asbestos-related diseases include:

• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD): Workers exposed to asbestos have a greater risk of COPD, a disease that restricts airflow from the lungs to other parts of the body, according to a 2009 study from the American Journal of Industrial Medicine.

• Pleural effusions: Pleural effusions occur when fluid builds up within the pleura, the lining of the lungs. They can cause chest pain, coughing, and breathing problems.

• Pleural plaques: When asbestos fibers are inhaled, they may damage the pleura and cause collagen to build up. Over time, collagen hardens and forms pleural plaques, a chalky and harmless substance.

• Pleuritis: Also known as pleurisy, this condition occurs when the pleura becomes irritated. It causes chest pain and difficulty breathing.

Some of these health problems, like pleural plaques, are not as serious as mesothelioma. However, doctors sometimes mistake mesothelioma for a less serious condition, so it’s important to get examined by a specialist if you were exposed to asbestos and are now struggling with health issues.

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Common Asbestos-Containing Products

A wide variety of products were made using asbestos since the material was cheap, common, and useful in a number of applications.

The following products may contain asbestos:

• Baby powder

• Brake pads

• Bricks

• Boilers

• Ceiling tiles

• Cement

• Flooring tiles

• Drywall

• Gaskets

• Insulation

• Makeup

• Paint

• Pipes

• Plastics

• Pumps

• Roofing

• Shingles

• Valves

Some of these products may still contain asbestos even today despite the well-known health risks.

In May 2019, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) found asbestos in Claire’s makeup, which is marketed towards girls and teenagers.