Asbestosis:
Asbestosis is characterized by a fibrosis
(scarring) of the lung tissue, which makes breathing
difficult.
The most prominent symptom is breathlessness. Early
detection of asbestosis is possible by X-ray examination
and lung function testing. However, the disease is
irreversible and will continue to progress even after
exposure is
stopped. Rarely a cause of death itself, asbestosis results
in an appreciable reduction in life expectancy due to
deaths from related illness.
Mesothelioma:
This is a rare cancer arising
from the cells of the pleura (lining of the chest cavity and
lungs) and
the peritoneum; it is characterized by a long latency period, usually at
least 15 years and sometimes more than 40.
There is no effective treatment for mesothelioma. A large
proportion of mesothelioma patients die within a year
of diagnosis; few survive longer than five years. Although
asbestos was once thought to be responsible for all
mesothelioma, other causes have now been identified. Still, the chance of
getting mesothelioma in the absence
of asbestos exposure is considered to be extremely remote.
Lung Cancer:
Unlike asbestosis and mesothelioma, lung cancer is
associated with more than just asbestos exposure;
there is no basic difference between lung cancer caused by asbestos and
that due to other causes. In general, the
risk of getting lung cancer increases with the extend of
asbestos exposure, in terms of both intensity and duration.
This risk is also greatly enhanced by smoking; most asbestos
workers who develop lung cancer are smokers. The
prognosis for persons diagnosed with lung cancer is poor. Only about one
in twenty survives longer than five years
after it is diagnosed.
Other
Asbestos-Related Cancers: The
relationship between asbestos exposure and asbestosis,
mesothelioma and
lung cancer has been clearly established and is beyond
argument. Several other cancers should be noted. They are:
gastrointestinal cancer affecting all sites in the
gastrointestinal tract (esophagus, stomach, colon and
rectum) and cancer
of the larynx.
Asbestos-Related Conditions:
A number of less serious effects have been associated with
asbestos exposure:
pleural plaques, asbestos bodies and warts. Pleural plaques
are areas of scarring of the pleural surfaces. In general,
they are not associated with any functional abnormality and
are merely an indicator of asbestos exposure.
Occasionally, they can become so widespread that they
restrict lung function. Asbestos bodies, also termed
"ferruginous bodies", result when asbestos fibers become
coated with a substance containing protein and iron. These
asbestos bodies are not harmful, and like pleural plaques,
serve as evidence of asbestos exposure. Asbestos warts
are harmless skin growths that occur when asbestos fibers
penetrate the skin.
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