Lung cancer caused by asbestos is the number one threat for workers in the United States who work with the natural carcinogen, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

Even though most people probably associate lung cancer with smoking, approximately four percent of lung cancers are caused by exposure to asbestos fibers. According to the National Cancer Institute’s Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program (SEER), more than 6,000 people die of asbestos-induced lung cancer each year in the U.S., the most deaths of any asbestos-related health problems.

The American Cancer Society says asbestos fibers can be inhaled, reaching the small airways of the lungs. Eventually, the fibers may penetrate the lining of the lung and chest wall, an area known as the pleura. Over time, chronic inflammation and irritation can give rise to lung cancer or to pleural mesothelioma, which is a cancer of the lungs’ lining.

Early symptoms of lung cancer include:

• Chronic cough
• Coughing up blood or rust-colored phlegm
• Chest pain that worsens with breathing deeply, coughing or laughing
• Hoarse voice
• Losing weight or losing one’s appetite
• Shortness of breath
• Fatigue
• Wheezing
• Persistent lung infections, such as bronchitis or pneumonia

Risks of Lung Cancer Caused by Asbestos

The term asbestos refers to several varieties of naturally occurring minerals that have been used for hundreds of years. Asbestos became popular due to its fire-resistant and insulating properties.

The health risks of asbestos have been written about since the early 20th century. Back in 1928, F.W. Simson, M.D. expressed concern of the effects of asbestos on the lungs of South African mine workers. His study was published in the British Medical Journal at the time.

Not long after, E.R.A. Merewether, M.D. published the “Report on Effects of Asbestos Dust on the Lungs and Dust Suppression in the Asbestos Industry” in 1930, exposing the health hazards of asbestos work.

In 1936, the American government passed the Walsh-Healey Public Contracts Act that required certain safety standards in work environments where government contracts were in effect. The Act banned conditions that were “unsanitary, hazardous, or dangerous to health or safety” of employees who were working under government contracts.

Despite decades of warnings, many occupations still find workers exposed to asbestos. Complicating the issue is the fact that symptoms of lung cancer caused by asbestos won’t appear for 15 to 35 years after exposure. That’s how long it takes for the fibers to fester inside the lungs or the lining of the lungs and for the cells to become so chronically irritated and inflamed, they begin to produce cancerous cells.

Those who work in ship building, automotive manufacturing, construction, demolition, railroads, power plants and steel mills are among populations most apt to suffer from asbestos exposure due to environmental contamination. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, people who live near such facilities also may be at increased risk to asbestos exposure simply because their homes could be contaminated by asbestos dust. Even people who haven’t worked directly with asbestos may be at risk of asbestos-related diseases due to secondary exposure caused by laundering the clothing worn by asbestos workers while on the job.