Although a lot of steps have been taken to abate asbestos danger, exposure may still be more prevalent than we realize. According to cancer.gov, in 1989 the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) banned all new uses of asbestos, but uses developed before 1989 are still allowed.

As word of the asbestos danger spread, however, the public’s pressure exerted an influence on the use of the group of six minerals that make up the product.

Between 1973 and 2015, there was a drop in consumption of about 802,640 metric tons.

The height of asbestos usage was from the start of World War II up until the late 1970s. During this period of extensive usage, asbestos danger was everywhere. Infamous applications were in the construction industry where it was used in insulation, roofing, cement, plastics, and other materials in order to strengthen, soundproof and fireproof.

Asbestos was used in the shipbuilding industry primarily to help with insulating pipes carrying hot water or steam. It was also used in the automotive and machinery industry with brake and clutch accessories, as well as in parts for other mechanical devices.

What is Asbestos and What Made It So Attractive?

Asbestos is a group of six minerals that naturally occur in bundles. The mineral fibers can be teased out into long-lasting, strong threads which have some attractive qualities for the aforementioned uses. The threads do not conduct electrical currents, are chemical-resistant, as well as fire and heat resistant.

Asbestos danger is posed when the fibers are inhaled and become lodged in the lungs or mesothelium – tissue that lines the abdomen and chest. While many of the fibers are exhaled along with CO2 without difficulty, it is the ones that remain behind that have been correlated with asbestos lung cancer and Mesothelioma.

Asbestos damage is caused by the constant irritation these sharp, glass-like needles provide over the course of an extensive latency period.

A latency period is the time between exposure to asbestos and the development of disease which can be anywhere between 10 to 50 years in length. During this time, the embedded fibers irritate surrounding tissue and cause inflammation and even genetic mutation.

What are the symptoms of Asbestos Lung Cancer vs. Mesothelioma?

Asbestos danger through varying rates of exposure can lead to asbestos lung cancer or mesothelioma. These cancers affect different tissues, but because they are very close in proximity, the symptoms can mimic each other.

It takes a medical professional to determine the nature of the asbestos-induced illness. Here are the likely symptoms one would experience at the outset of either disease:

• Pain the chest region
• Chronic exhaustion
• Difficulty breathing
• Unexplained weight loss

Tools for diagnosis of both diseases would first be an X-ray followed by the use of more in-depth imaging technology such as CT scan, MRI, or PET scans. The latter three may be done with or without an injection of a contrasting material, depending upon the discretion of the ordering physician.

Asbestos lung cancer and mesothelioma are both treated with a combination of surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. Survival rates depend upon the stage of the cancer at diagnosis.