You might have heard of asbestos, how dangerous it is and what sort of problems it can cause. But, unless you work in an industry that is closely tied to working with or around asbestos, then you most likely think that you are safe, and that you don’t need to worry about asbestos poisoning or any of the diseases that it might cause. However, while that might be true, we actually come in contact with it more often than we think and we should all be aware of the dangers that asbestos causes. So let’s break it down and see exactly what effects asbestos can have on our health.
What is asbestos and how it’s used
Before we can answer what effects asbestos has on our health, we need to understand what exactly asbestos is. Asbestos is the name of six mineral silicate compounds that occur naturally as bundles of fibres, which are resistant to fire, heat, and chemicals, which is why they are so often used in many industries.
It is mostly used in construction to strengthen cement and plastic, making buildings more structurally durable. It is also used for insolation, roofing, soundproofing and fireproofing. It is used in the automotive industry for the production of certain car parts, and in interior decorating, being an ingredient in tiles, paints, and adhesives. So it is safe to assume that asbestos is all around us, in different parts of our lives, especially if we live or spend time in older buildings, where asbestos was even more commonly used before all of the health hazards were discovered.
How it affects human health
To fully understand why asbestos is so dangerous, we need to understand that asbestos particles are very small, needle-like particles. When breathed in, they can get trapped in our lungs and stay there for a very long time. Because of how sharp the particles are, they can cause scarring and inflammation of the lungs, leading to further complications. Asbestos is also labelled as a known human carcinogen, and is linked to several different types of lung cancer. It can also cause asbestosis as well as a whole array of lung diseases and problems.
The symptoms of asbestos-related diseases
If you have had a lot of exposure to asbestos over a longer period of time, you might start to worry that it is affecting your health. Many asbestos-related problems that might occur share the same symptoms, so it’s not a bad idea to keep track of these and see if anything gets worse over time. The first one and most common is shortness of breath and constant coughing. It happens when your lungs are struggling to regulate the flow of air because of piled up asbestos. The next symptom is blood in the sputum when coughing. If you ever experience this, it is a more serious symptom, and you should consult your doctor. Other symptoms can include pain in the chest and irregular breathing, difficulty swallowing, swelling of the neck or face, weight loss and loss of appetite and fatigue. Of course, none of these symptoms alone means asbestos poisoning or a related disease, but if you notice any of them, especially if they are persistent, you should go to a doctor immediately, and try to think of all the places where you might have been exposed to asbestos, because the place might need to be tested in the future. If there is a suspicion that you have an asbestos-related disease, you will most likely be x-rayed, since it is the most common method for detecting such diseases.
How to protect yourself from asbestos
If you work closely with asbestos, whether you are working in mining, construction or any other industry that uses it on a regular basis, make sure that your nose and mouth are always covered by a high-quality filtrating mask. If you work in an old building, ask around to see if it was tested for asbestos presence in the air, and if the numbers are higher than normal, consider wearing a mask at the workplace.
You can also get sick right at home, especially if it is an old house. When I moved with my family, we found our dream home that ticked every box, but we knew that asbestos was used for insulation in the home, so to protect my family and myself, I found someone who does asbestos removal and had the house cleaned out. It was a safety measure that anyone who lives in an old house should do, especially with a small child.
While it’s important that we are aware of all of the risks that we are exposed to, it is not something that should disturb us on a daily basis and make us feel unsafe. In modern construction, asbestos is strictly controlled and we are mostly safe in any urban surrounding.