Working with asbestos produced a dust formed of thin, sharp fibres that the human body cannot dissolve. Over time, this scar tissue stiffens the lungs, making it more difficult for the lungs to fill with air and provide oxygen to the body. Development of asbestos-related disease that cause this restriction, as well as other symptoms, has a latency period anywhere between 10 and 50 years.
Symptoms usually only present themselves 20 to 30 years after exposure to asbestos, once the disease has already started to develop. For people with heavier amounts of exposure to asbestos, or worked with it for extended amounts of time, such as insulation workers, laggers, boiler makers and ship builders, the latency period for developing an asbestos-related disease can be shorter.
There are some instances where the time between exposure and diagnosis can be much shorter — following the collapse of the Twin Towers in New York in , clouds of dust and debris containing asbestos fibres were released in to the air. Most people exposed to this dust were rescue workers at Ground Zero.
Prior to this, another worker was diagnosed with mesothelioma just 2 years after the attacks, and died in Symptoms for asbestos-related diseases vary from disease to disease, but they all affect respiratory health.
Some of the most common symptoms of asbestos diseases are:. Mesothelioma, a cancer caused by exposure to asbestos, can also affect the lining of the abdomen peritoneal mesothelioma , as well as the lining of the lungs pleural mesothelioma. Examples include: heating and ventilation engineers demolition workers plumbers construction workers electricians For more information on who could be at risk, read Health and Safety Executive HSE : am I at risk?
Symptoms of asbestosis Breathing in asbestos fibres over many years eventually causes scarring of the lungs. Symptoms include: shortness of breath persistent cough wheezing extreme tiredness fatigue pain in your chest or shoulder in more advanced cases, clubbed swollen fingertips It can take 20 to 30 years before symptoms appear. When to see a GP You should see a GP if you have symptoms of asbestosis and think you may have been exposed to asbestos.
The GP will listen to your lungs and ask about your work history. They may refer you to a specialist in lung diseases for more tests if asbestosis is suspected. Tests may include: a chest X-ray a CT scan of the lungs lung function tests to see how well your lungs are working Treatment for asbestosis There's no cure for asbestosis once it has developed, as it's not possible to reverse the damage to the lungs.
But some treatments can help, such as: pulmonary rehabilitation — a programme of exercises and education to help manage your symptoms oxygen therapy — breathing in oxygen-rich air from a machine or tank to help improve breathlessness if your blood oxygen levels are low inhaler to ease breathing if your symptoms are mild It's also important that you: stop smoking if you smoke — symptoms can be worse in those who smoke, and smoking increases the risk of lung cancer see a GP to have the flu vaccination and the pneumococcal vaccination — your lungs will be more vulnerable to infections like flu and pneumonia Complications of asbestosis People with asbestosis also have a higher risk of developing other serious conditions, such as: pleural disease — thickening of the lining covering the lungs pleura mesothelioma — cancer that affects the lining of the lungs, tummy, heart or testicles lung cancer Can I get compensation?
If you've been diagnosed with asbestosis, you may be able to claim compensation through: industrial injuries disablement benefit a civil claim for compensation against previous employers a claim for governmental compensation under the Pneumoconiosis etc. Acquiring asbestosis is extremely unlikely if you follow your employer's safety procedures. Treatment focuses on relieving your symptoms. Clubbing of the fingers, in which the fingertips spread out and become rounder than normal, is often linked to heart or lung conditions.
The effects of long-term exposure to asbestos typically don't show up until 10 to 40 years after initial exposure. Symptoms can vary in severity. Asbestosis signs and symptoms may include:. If you have a history of exposure to asbestos and you're experiencing increasing shortness of breath, talk to your doctor about the possibility of asbestosis. If you are exposed to high levels of asbestos dust over a long period of time, some of the airborne fibers can become lodged within your alveoli — the tiny sacs inside your lungs where oxygen is exchanged for carbon dioxide in your blood.
The asbestos fibers irritate and scar lung tissue, causing the lungs to become stiff. This makes it difficult to breathe.
As asbestosis progresses, more and more lung tissue becomes scarred. Eventually, your lung tissue becomes so stiff that it can't contract and expand normally. Smoking appears to increase the retention of asbestos fibers in the lungs, and often results in a faster progression of the disease. People who worked in mining, milling, manufacturing, installation or removal of asbestos products before the late s are at risk of asbestosis. Examples include:.
Risk of asbestosis is generally related to the amount and the duration of exposure to asbestos. The greater the exposure is, the greater the risk is of lung damage. Secondhand exposure is possible for household members of exposed workers, as asbestos fibers may be carried home on clothing. People living close to mines may also be exposed to asbestos fibers released into the air. In general, it's safe to be around materials that are made with asbestos as long as the asbestos fibers are contained.
This prevents them from getting into the air and being inhaled. If you have asbestosis, you're at increased risk of developing lung cancer — especially if you smoke or have a history of smoking. Rarely, malignant mesothelioma, a cancer of the tissue around the lung, can occur many years after exposure to asbestos.
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