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Asbestosis is one of several respiratory diseases that can result from exposure to asbestos fibers. Although it is chronic (and therefore incurable), it is not malignant like cancer and can be managed.
Asbestos
The term “asbestos” refers to a group of silicate minerals that are soft and pliable, and therefore can be woven into cloth or used for insulation. It is also fireproof; reportedly, 9th-Century Frankish king Charlemagne owned an asbestos tablecloth, with which he would amaze his dinner guests by throwing it into a burning fireplace for cleaning. Asbestos was used as fireproofing and heat-resistant applications for much of the 19th and 20th centuries.
Asbestosis
This disease is a form of fibrosis, or scarring of the lungs, caused by asbestos fibers entering the air passages when exposed to asbestos. These fibers cause scarring and inflammation over time, reducing lung capacity and making breathing increasingly difficult. Symptoms may not be apparent until 20 years or more after initial exposure. Diagnosis can be difficult because the symptoms can be mistaken for other conditions.
Serpentine
This is the most commonly-used form of asbestos. Also known as “soft,” or “white” asbestos, serpentine was used extensively in building construction up through the 1970s. It is also the form of asbestos most frequently associated with asbestosis.
Asbestos Lung Cancer
Although it has the same cause, asbestos lung cancer is different from asbestosis in that it is a malignant disease that can spread to other parts of the body. Most cases of asbestos lung cancer is of the non-small cell variety (NSCLC). While asbestosis is far more common, the risk of asbestos lung cancer increases exponentially for cigarette smokers. The reason is that tobacco use can impair the lungs’ ability to expel asbestos fibers.
Mesothelioma
Unlike asbestos lung cancer or asbestosis, mesothelioma develops outside of the lung, even though it can be caused by breathing asbestos fibers. This is a cancer that affects the pleural lining and develops in a sheet-like manner, making it difficult to detect until the disease has reached an advanced stage.
Mesothelioma is linked to two specific varieties of asbestos that were commonly used for industrial applications: crocidolite, or “blue” asbestos, and tremolite, or “brown” asbestos. Frequently used in electrical applications during the early to mid-20th Century, these are made up of hard, needle-like, microscopic fibers that literally drill through lung tissue from the inside out, causing chronic inflammation that results in malignancy.
Mesothelioma can also affect other parts of the body, such as the abdomen.
Latency Period
This term refers to the period of time between initial exposure to asbestos and the manifestation of symptoms. Asbestosis and other asbestos-related disease can have latency periods of as long as 50 years.
Occupational Risks
These are “on-the-job” or work-related dangers that can have serious health consequences. Fields in which workers have been at risk for asbestosis or other asbestos lung diseases include:
- construction
- heating and cooling
- steamfitting
- automotive
- marine-related (seamen, longshoremen, shipyard workers)
- railroad
- many types of manufacturing
People who worked in the film and entertainment industry were also at risk, as asbestos was used on sets for curtains, fake snow, etc.
For more information, check out The Complete Guide to Asbestos Mesothelioma Lawsuits & Settlements!
