How Asbestos Exposure Can Cause Medical Problems

A brief overview of asbestos

Talking about asbestos, we are sure that if you are here then you may already be aware of how asbestos exposure can create problems and why? However, if you are new, then don’t worry we are here to explain. 

Asbestos is an element that was considered a miraculous discovery back in the late 19^th century when it was discovered. It was a material that is too good to be true. It contains all the properties that an ideal insulating material should have and that is why it was heavily used as an insulating agent in building materials. 

For over a century it was used as a construction material in almost every building construction. However, in the late 20^th century it was discovered that it is one of the deadliest substances that humans can come in contact with, which is why it was partially banned in 1980 by the federal government. And it wasn’t until the 2000s after around 20 years that asbestos was completely banned because of its atrocious nature. 

But the buildings that were created between the years 1880 to 2000 can’t be demolished which means asbestos is still present in the ancient buildings. Especially, in New York City most of the prestigious buildings are old, so before moving your office or your residence to any such building it is important to have Asbestos testing services NYC from some renowned testing agency. 

How asbestos is responsible for medical problems

Asbestos contains fiber-like structures which we simply call asbestos fibers. These fibers are airborne and unbreakable. This means if you are exposed to these fibers, you can either ingest them or inhale them. Either way, they will enter your respiratory system and can get trapped in your lungs, and can cause various health problems. 

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the (IARC) International Agency for Research on Cancer have all designated asbestos as a recognized human carcinogen. IARC states that there is enough proof that asbestos causes malignancies of the lung, throat, and ovary, as well as mesothelioma, a very uncommon cancer of the thin membranes that border the chest and belly. In fact, asbestos exposure is regarded to be the primary cause of most mesotheliomas. There is little proof that asbestos exposure raises the chance of developing stomach, pharynx, and colorectal cancer.

Asbestos induced diseases

As we discussed asbestos can enter the human body through ingestion and inhaling, so we can assume that most diseases are associated with the respiratory system. So, four major health problems asbestos causes are;

Asbestosis

Breathing asbestos fibers can cause the scarring of lungs which is termed asbestosis. This scarring makes the passing of oxygen and carbon dioxide difficult. This problem occurs because of long-term and high-level exposure to asbestos. Most of the time, this problem doesn’t show up until it’s too late. 

Pleural disease

The membrane enclosing the lungs and chest cavity changes as a result of the non-cancerous lung ailment known as pleural illness (pleura). The membrane may swell up around the lungs or thicken all over (diffuse pleural thickening) or in specific spots (pleural plaques) (known as a pleural effusion). While not all people with pleural alterations may experience breathing difficulties, some may experience less effective lung function.

Lung cancer

It causes the formation of malignant tumors that block the air channels of the lungs. Asbestos exposure and smoking tobacco can be a nasty combination for this problem. 

Mesothelioma

It is a rare cancer of the membranes around various internal organs, the membrane lining the abdominal cavity, and the membrane covering the lungs and chest cavity (pleura). After being exposed to asbestos for 30 to 40 years, mesothelioma symptoms may not manifest.

How you can prevent them

In simple terms, if you got successful in dealing with asbestos then you can prevent any of these problems easily. The best way to avoid asbestosis is to limit your exposure to asbestos. Federal law mandates that employers in construction and other businesses that operate with asbestos materials take extra precautions.

Buildings constructed before the 1980s contain asbestos in their floor tiles or pipes etc. In general, as long as the asbestos remains contained and unaltered, there is little risk of exposure. If you are not sure it is better to take appropriate environmental testing services. For example, if you are based in NY then you can take environmental testing services NY from any renowned environmental testing services provider like Kac solutions.