Medical Author: John P. Cunha, DO
Medical Editor: William C. Shiel, Jr., MD, FACP, FACR
* What is asbestos?
* What are the types of asbestos–related lung disease?
* What are the types of asbestos fibers?
* What does fiber size have to do with asbestos–related lung disease?
* What is asbestosis?
* What are symptoms and signs of asbestosis?
* What tests and studies are used to evaluate asbestosis?
* How is asbestosis treated?
* What is pleural disease?
* Does asbestos exposure cause lung cancer?
* What is malignant mesothelioma?
* What other cancers have been linked to asbestos exposure?
* How can exposure to asbestos be reduced?
* What kind of asbestos is used today?
* Asbestos Related Disorders At A Glance
What is asbestos?
Asbestos is a family of naturally occurring silica compounds (similar to, but not the same as, the silica of window glass and computer chips). These substances form fibers with varying shapes and sizes and are found throughout the earth. There are three commonly available types of asbestos; chrysotile (white asbestos), amosite (brown asbestos), and crocidolite (blue asbestos). All three have been associated with cancerous and non–cancerous lung disease.
Asbestos has been used frequently in a variety of building materials for insulation and as a fire retardant. Today, it is found most commonly in older homes – in pipes, furnaces, roof shingles, millboard, textured paints, coating materials, and floor tiles.
What are the types of asbestos–related lung disease?
Lung disease from exposure to asbestos can be divided into three main types: 1) asbestosis, 2) disease of the lining of the lung (pleura), and 3) lung cancer.
1. Asbestosis is a process of widespread scarring of the lungs.
2. Disease of the lining of the lungs, called the pleura, has a variety of signs and symptoms and is the result of inflammation and the hardening (calcification) and/or thickening of the lining tissue.
3. Lung cancer, either of the internal portions of the lungs or the outer lining (pleura).
All of the commonly available commercial forms of asbestos have been linked to cancerous and non–cancerous lung disease.
Asbestos–related lung disease occurred at very high rates toward the middle of the 20th century, when patients who were exposed decades earlier to asbestos eventually developed disease. British asbestos workers were among the first who were observed to have lung cancer related to asbestos.
Most current patients were once exposed to asbestos in:
* mines,
* mills,
* factories, or
* homes with asbestos, either in the process of carrying, installing, or removing asbestos, or while cleaning items laden with asbestos dust.
Some workers have been exposed to high concentrations of asbestos in:
* automotive repair,
* boilermaking,
* construction,
* pipefitting,
* launderers of asbestos–containing clothing.
Continuing sources of exposure are asbestos removal and general construction industries. The delay between exposure to asbestos and the development of cancer is generally 20 or more years.
The number of deaths from asbestosis has increased over the past two decades, but is believed to have plateaued due to increased awareness of the risks.
Medical Editor: William C. Shiel, Jr., MD, FACP, FACR
* What is asbestos?
* What are the types of asbestos–related lung disease?
* What are the types of asbestos fibers?
* What does fiber size have to do with asbestos–related lung disease?
* What is asbestosis?
* What are symptoms and signs of asbestosis?
* What tests and studies are used to evaluate asbestosis?
* How is asbestosis treated?
* What is pleural disease?
* Does asbestos exposure cause lung cancer?
* What is malignant mesothelioma?
* What other cancers have been linked to asbestos exposure?
* How can exposure to asbestos be reduced?
* What kind of asbestos is used today?
* Asbestos Related Disorders At A Glance
What is asbestos?
Asbestos is a family of naturally occurring silica compounds (similar to, but not the same as, the silica of window glass and computer chips). These substances form fibers with varying shapes and sizes and are found throughout the earth. There are three commonly available types of asbestos; chrysotile (white asbestos), amosite (brown asbestos), and crocidolite (blue asbestos). All three have been associated with cancerous and non–cancerous lung disease.
Asbestos has been used frequently in a variety of building materials for insulation and as a fire retardant. Today, it is found most commonly in older homes – in pipes, furnaces, roof shingles, millboard, textured paints, coating materials, and floor tiles.
What are the types of asbestos–related lung disease?
Lung disease from exposure to asbestos can be divided into three main types: 1) asbestosis, 2) disease of the lining of the lung (pleura), and 3) lung cancer.
1. Asbestosis is a process of widespread scarring of the lungs.
2. Disease of the lining of the lungs, called the pleura, has a variety of signs and symptoms and is the result of inflammation and the hardening (calcification) and/or thickening of the lining tissue.
3. Lung cancer, either of the internal portions of the lungs or the outer lining (pleura).
All of the commonly available commercial forms of asbestos have been linked to cancerous and non–cancerous lung disease.
Asbestos–related lung disease occurred at very high rates toward the middle of the 20th century, when patients who were exposed decades earlier to asbestos eventually developed disease. British asbestos workers were among the first who were observed to have lung cancer related to asbestos.
Most current patients were once exposed to asbestos in:
* mines,
* mills,
* factories, or
* homes with asbestos, either in the process of carrying, installing, or removing asbestos, or while cleaning items laden with asbestos dust.
Some workers have been exposed to high concentrations of asbestos in:
* automotive repair,
* boilermaking,
* construction,
* pipefitting,
* launderers of asbestos–containing clothing.
Continuing sources of exposure are asbestos removal and general construction industries. The delay between exposure to asbestos and the development of cancer is generally 20 or more years.
The number of deaths from asbestosis has increased over the past two decades, but is believed to have plateaued due to increased awareness of the risks.
Labels: Mesothelioma Abestos
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