What is asbestos?
"Asbestos" is the name given to a group of minerals that occur naturally as masses of strong, flexible fibers that can be separated into thin threads and woven. These fibers are not affected by heat or chemicals and do not conduct electricity. For these reasons, asbestos has been widely used in many industries.
What types of asbestos have been commonly used?
There are four types of asbestos -- Chrysotile, or white asbestos (curly, flexible white fibers); Amosite (straight, brittle fibers that are light gray to pale brown in color); Crocidolite, or blue asbestos (straight blue fibers); and Anthophyllite (brittle white fibers). Chrysotile asbestos accounts for about 90 percent of the asbestos currently used in industry. Asbestos fiber masses tend to break easily into a dust composed of tiny particles that can float in the air and stick to clothes. The fibers may be easily inhaled or swallowed and can cause serious health problems.
How is asbestos used?
Asbestos has been mined and used commercially in North America since the late 1800s, but its use increased greatly during World War II. Since then, it has been used in many industries. For example, the building and construction industry uses it for strengthening cement and plastics as well as for insulation, fireproofing and sound absorption. The shipbuilding industry has used asbestos to insulate boilers, steampipes, hot water pipes and nuclear reactors in ships. The automotive industry uses asbestos in vehicle brakeshoes and clutch pads. More than 5,000 products contain or have contained asbestos, including sewage piping, roofing and siding, railroad cars, airplanes, industrial filters for beverages, small appliance components, and underlying material for sheet flooring, packing components, heat- and fire-resistant clothing, paints, coatings, sealants caulking and much more.
When was asbestos in certain products banned?
In the late 1970s, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) banned the use of asbestos in wallboard patching compounds and gas fireplaces because these products released excessive amounts of asbestos fibers into the environment. In addition, manufacturers of electric hair dryers voluntarily withdrew asbestos. These and other regulatory actions, coupled with widespread public concern about the hazards of asbestos, have resulted in a significant annual decline in U.S. use of asbestos over the years. Domestic use of asbestos amounted to about 560,000 metric tons in 1979, but it had dropped to about 55,000 metric tons by 1989.
What are the health hazards of exposure to asbestos?
Exposure to asbestos may increase the risk of several serious diseases, including Asbestosis, Lung cancer, Mesothelimoa and other cancers such as larynx and gastrointestinal tract. Asbestosis is a chronic lung ailment that can produce shortness of breath and permanent lung damage and also increase the risk of dangerous lung infections. Mesothelioma is a relatively rare cancer of the thin membranes that line the chest and abdomen.
Who is at risk?
Health hazards from asbestos dust have been recognized in workers exposed in shipbuilding trades, asbestos mining and milling, manufacturing of asbestos textiles and other asbestos products, insulation work in the construction and building trades, brake repair and a variety of other trades. Demolition workers, drywall removers and firefighters also may be exposed to asbestos dust. As a result of Government regulations and improved work practices, today's workers (those without previous exposure) are likely to face smaller risks than did those exposed in the past. There also is some evidence that family members of workers heavily exposed to asbestos face an increased risk of developing mesothelioma and perhaps other asbestos-related diseases. This risk is thought to result from exposure to asbestos dust brought into the home on the shoes, clothing, skin and hair of workers.
How long do you need to be exposed to asbestos to be at risk?
The risk to workers increases with heavier exposure and longer exposure time, but investigators have found asbestos-related diseases in some shipyard workers exposed to high levels of asbestos fibers for only brief periods (as little as 1 or 2 months). Even workers who may not have worked directly with asbestos but whose jobs were located near contaminated areas have developed asbestosis, mesothelioma and other cancers associated with asbestos exposure.
How great is the risk?
Not all workers exposed to asbestos will develop diseases related to their exposure. In fact, many will experience no ill effects. Asbestos that is bonded into finished products such as walls, tiles and pipes poses no risk to health as long as it is not damaged or disturbed (for example, by sawing or drilling) in such a way as to release fibers into the air. However, when asbestos particles are set free and inhaled, exposed individuals are at risk of developing an asbestos-related disease. Once these nearly indestructible fibers work their way into body tissues, they tend to stay there indefinitely. The risk of developing asbestos-related diseases also varies with the type of industry in which the exposure occurred and with the extent of the exposure. In addition, different types of asbestos fibers may be associated with different health risks. For example, results of several studies suggest that crocidolite and amosite are more likely than chrysotile to cause lung cancer, asbestosis, and, in particular, mesothelioma. Even so, no fiber type can be considered harmless, and people working with asbestos should always take proper safety precautions.
How does smoking affect risk?
Many studies have shown that the combination of smoking and asbestos exposure is particularly hazardous. Cigarette smokers, on the average, are 10 times as likely to develop lung cancer as are nonsmokers. For nonsmokers who work with asbestos, the risk is about five times greater than for those in the general population. By contrast, smokers who also are heavily exposed to asbestos are as much as 90 times more likely to develop lung cancer than are non-exposed individuals who do not smoke. However, smoking does not appear to increase the risk of mesothelioma. There is evidence that quitting smoking will reduce the risk of lung cancer among asbestos-exposed workers, perhaps by as much as half or more after at least 5 years without smoking. People who were exposed to asbestos on the job at any time during their life or who suspect they may have been exposed should not smoke. If they smoke, they should stop.
When will someone show signs of an asbestos-related illness?
Generally, workers who develop asbestos-related diseases show no signs of illness until many years after their first exposure. For example, the time between first exposure to asbestos and the appearance of lung cancer is generally 15 years or more (a lag of 30 to 35 years is not unusual). The lag period for development of mesothelioma and asbestosis is even greater, often as long as 40 to 45 years.
Who needs to be examined for asbestos-related diseases?
Individuals who have been exposed (or suspect they have been exposed) to asbestos dust on the job or at home through a family contact should inform their physician of their exposure history and any symptoms. A thorough physical examination, including a chest x-ray and lung function tests, may be recommended. Interpretation of the chest x-ray may require the help of a specialist who is experienced in reading x-rays for asbestos-related diseases. Other tests also may be necessary. Some of the symptoms to look for are shortness of breath; a cough or a change in cough pattern; blood in the sputum (fluid) coughed up from the lungs; pain in the chest or abdomen; difficulty in swallowing or prolonged hoarseness; and/or significant weight loss. If any of these symptoms develop, a physical examination should be scheduled without delay.
What are the treatments for asbestos-related diseases?
The early detection of asbestos-related diseases is the key to successful treatment. The health problems caused by asbestosis are due mainly to lung infections, like pneumonia, that attack weakened lungs. Early medical attention and prompt, aggressive treatment offer the best chance of success in controlling such infections. Depending upon the situation, doctors may give a vaccine against influenza or pneumococcal pneumonia as a protective measure. Treatment of cancer is tailored to the individual patient and may include surgery, anticancer drugs, radiation or combinations of these therapies.
How can workers protect themselves?
Employers are required to follow regulations dealing with asbestos exposure on the job that have been issued by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the Federal agency responsible for health and safety regulations in the workplace. The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) enforce mine safety regulations. Workers should use all protective equipment provided by their employers and follow recommended work practices and safety procedures. Workers who are concerned about asbestos exposure in the workplace should discuss the situation with other employees, their union and their employers. If necessary, OSHA can provide more information or make an inspection.
What should people who have been exposed to asbestos do?
If you have been exposed to asbestos, you must stop smoking; get regular health checkups; get prompt medical attention for any respiratory illness; and use all protective equipment, work practices and safety procedures designed for working around asbestos.
Will the Government provide examinations and treatment or pay for such services?
Medical services related to asbestos exposure are available through the Government only for certain groups of eligible individuals. In general, exposed individuals must pay for their own medical services unless they are covered by private or Government health insurance. Medicare may reimburse people with symptoms of asbestos-related diseases for the costs of diagnosis and treatment (following review of medical procedures for appropriateness). People with asbestos-related diseases also may qualify for financial help, including medical payments, under state workers' compensation laws. If you've been exposed to asbestos, you also may be able to pursue legal options. Contact us for more information.
Is there a danger of non-occupational exposure from products contaminated with asbestos particles?
Asbestos is so widely used that the entire population has been exposed to some degree. Air, beverages, drinking water, food, drug and dental preparations, and a variety of consumer products all may contain small amounts of asbestos. In addition, asbestos fibers are released into the environment from natural deposits in the earth and as a result of wear and deterioration of asbestos products.
Who regulates the general public's exposure to asbestos?
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulates the general public's exposure to asbestos in buildings, drinking water and the environment. The EPA's Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Assistance Office can answer questions about toxic substances, including asbestos. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is concerned with asbestos contamination of foods, drugs and cosmetics.