Extended exposure to asbestos fibers can cause a variety of asbestos-related lung diseases such as pleural plaque, pleural effusion, asbestosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma.

Asbestos fibers are naturally occurring minerals shaped like tiny threads of fiber resistant to heat, fire, and chemicals. Asbestos is naturally present in the air, water, and soil and does not cause the majority of people to fall ill. Those most significantly impacted are people who have extended asbestos exposure, typically through work or substantial environmental contact, according to the National Cancer Institute.

Asbestos-Related Lung Diseases

Until the 1970s, asbestos was widely used in numerous American commercial industries such as strengthening cement and plastics, providing roofing insulation, fireproofing and soundproofing, as well as for the shipbuilding industry to insulate boilers, steam pipes, and hot water pipes. Because of its widespread use, many workers may have suffered asbestos exposure without their knowledge and later developed an asbestos lung disease

The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute reports that pleural plaque is a symptomless condition in which the tissue (pleura) around the lungs and diaphragm thickens and hardens. The disease will later present as a mass on an x-ray image.

Pleural effusion, a related lung condition caused or aggravated by asbestos, is diagnosed when excess fluid builds up in the pleural space — the area between the lungs and the chest wall.

Asbestosis is diagnosed when the lung tissue becomes scarred by inhaled asbestos fibers, putting those afflicted with asbestosis at a greater risk for lung cancer. Smokers are particularly vulnerable for asbestosis.

Asbestos Lung Cancer, Asbestosis, and Mesothelioma

Asbestos exposure results in lung cancer when the cancer forms in the lung tissue, usually in the cells lining the air passages. For people who suffer asbestosis–a chronic, progressive deterioration of the lungs caused by large amounts or long-term asbestos exposure punctuated by lung inflammation that results in shortness of breath, coughing, and permanent lung damage–cigarette smoking aggravates the condition.

The onset of asbestosis usually begins 10 to 20 years after the initial exposure and becomes worse over time. The scarring of the lungs makes breathing more challenging as it is difficult for oxygen and carbon monoxide to pass through the lungs and clear out the cancer-causing chemicals in cigarettes.

Mesothelioma is cancer of the pleura, that is the tissue lining the lungs. Malignant mesothelioma is the most serious of all asbestos-related diseases. Both stem exclusively from over-exposure to asbestos fibers.

No treatments can reverse the effects of asbestos on your lungs. However, treatments may help relieve symptoms, slow the progress of the disease, and prevent complications.

Mesothelioma, is a manageable malignancy even though there is no cure for it. Mesothelioma treatment options can include surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. Radiation therapy often is used in conjunction with surgery and chemotherapy, while alternative therapies have also been found to be effective.

The workers at the greatest risk for asbestos-related lung diseases are those who were not protected while making, installing or removing products containing asbestos. Those who worked near others who did these jobs also are at risk.Family members may have breathed in asbestos fibers via relatives exposed to asbestos fibers brought home on their clothes, shoes, or bodies.

Generally, being around asbestos-made products isn’t a danger as long as the asbestos is enclosed. This prevents the fibers from getting into the air. People in the United States are less likely to have asbestos-related lung diseases now because the mineral is no longer widely used.

If you’ve been exposed to asbestos, let your doctor know. He or she can watch you for signs of asbestos-related problems and start treatment early, if needed. Early treatment may help prevent or delay asbestos complications.