Asbestosis is a breathing disorder that is caused by inhaling microscopic particles of asbestos, an insulating material. This disease can cause the lung tissue to become scarred and inflamed. This disease develops over many years, so you may not experience symptoms right away.
Asbestosis & Dust Diseases
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Reston Hospital Center answeredA thorough physical examination, including a chest x-ray and lung function tests, may be recommended. The chest x-ray is currently the most common tool used to detect asbestos-related diseases. However, it is important to note that chest x-rays cannot detect asbestos fibers in the lungs, but they can help identify any early signs of lung disease resulting from asbestos exposure.
Studies have shown that computed tomography (CT) (a series of detailed pictures of areas inside the body taken from different angles; the pictures are created by a computer linked to an x-ray machine) may be more effective than conventional chest x-rays at detecting asbestos-related lung abnormalities in individuals who have been exposed to asbestos.
A lung biopsy, which detects microscopic asbestos fibers in pieces of lung tissue removed by surgery, is the most reliable test to confirm the presence of asbestos-related abnormalities. A bronchoscopy is a less invasive test than a biopsy and detects asbestos fibers in material that is rinsed out of the lungs. It is important to note that these tests cannot determine how much asbestos an individual may have been exposed to or whether disease will develop. Asbestos fibers can also be detected in urine, mucus, or feces, but these tests are not reliable for determining how much asbestos may be in an individual's lungs.
This answer is based on source information from the National Cancer Institute.
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Reston Hospital Center answered
Asbestos is the name given to a group of minerals that occur naturally in the environment as bundles of fibers that can be separated into thin, durable threads. These fibers are resistant to heat, fire, and chemicals and do not conduct electricity. For these reasons, asbestos has been used widely in many industries.
Chemically, asbestos minerals are silicate compounds, meaning they contain atoms of silicon and oxygen in their molecular structure.
Asbestos minerals are divided into two major groups: Serpentine asbestos and amphibole asbestos. Serpentine asbestos includes the mineral chrysotile, which has long, curly fibers that can be woven. Chrysotile asbestos is the form that has been used most widely in commercial applications. Amphibole asbestos includes the minerals actinolite, tremolite, anthophyllite, crocidolite, and amosite. Amphibole asbestos has straight, needle-like fibers that are more brittle than those of serpentine asbestos and are more limited in their ability to be fabricated.
This answer is based on source information from the National Cancer Institute.
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Reston Hospital Center answered
Dust diseases such as asbestosis and silicosis permanently scar the lungs and are caused by frequently inhaling particles of minerals. The minerals that cause asbestosis are fibers of asbestos, which can be found in older buildings. Because of its resistance to fire, asbestos material was frequently used to make insulation, cement, some floor tiles, and other fire-proof materials. In the 1970's, the United States government started regulating the use of asbestos material, but it can still be found in older buildings. Silicosis is caused by inhaling particles of silica (quartz), which are created by the destruction of stone material. For example, silica particles can be released into the air during sand blasting, mining, or some crafts such as glass making, ceramics, or pottery.
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Reston Hospital Center answered
Dust disease and asbestosis can deteriorate lung functioning and put excess strain on the heart. Normally, the lungs are protected from inhaled microscopic particles by cilia, which are tiny hairs that line airways and catch particles before they reach the lungs. Air sacs inside the lungs called alveoli, which regulate the transfer of oxygen to the blood, also possess an immune response to foreign particles. Defense cells called macrophages protect the alveoli by destroying unwanted particles such as smoke and dust. However, asbestos and silica particles are difficult to break down and cause the macrophages to release an enzyme that damages the alveoli and can cause scarring over time. A buildup of scarring in alveoli and other lung tissue can cause the heart to work harder because blood vessels in the lungs are blocked by scar tissue. This can lead to high blood pressure (pulmonary hypertension) and problems with the right side of the heart.
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Reston Hospital Center answered
Asbestosis and dust disease are lung disorders caused by the frequent inhalation of dangerous outside factors. Asbestosis is caused by an accumulation of asbestos fibers in the lungs. Before the government's regulation of asbestos in the 1970's, it was valued in the construction industry for its resistance to fire. Dust disease includes both asbestosis and the more common silicosis, which is caused by a buildup of silica or silicate particles in the lungs. Particles of silica dust can be created by any destruction of rock particles such as sand blasting or mining. Both diseases can cause scarring of the lungs and even lung cancer.
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Reston Hospital Center answeredSymptoms of dust diseases such as asbestosis and silicosis usually develop over a long period of time. For example, symptoms of asbestosis may not occur until 20 to 30 years after exposure to asbestos. This is because symptoms are caused by built-up scarring of the lung tissue, which disrupts normal lung contraction and expansion. Symptoms of asbestosis include:
- shortness of breath, which can worsen with time
- chronic cough or chest pain
- clubbed or deformed fingers
Likewise, silicosis symptoms may not occur for years after initial exposure. However, some people can experience an initial cough. People with silicosis usually experience breathing difficulties with physical exertion which can progressively worsen to the point where they have breathing difficulties at rest. Silicosis symptoms also include weight loss, fatigue, or a cough that produces phlegm. -
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Reston Hospital Center answered
Those who are most at risk for developing dust disease and asbestosis over time are those who frequently inhale dust particles. Although asbestos can be found in some older buildings, people who never come into contact with asbestos dust run a lower risk of developing lung disease. On the other hand, people who frequently work with dust or asbestos, such as construction workers or demolition crews, run a higher risk of developing complications from asbestosis. Those with a higher risk for acquiring the dust disease silicosis include: miners, sand blasters, coal miners, stonecutters, and crafters who make glass, pottery, or ceramics. People with any of these risk factors who also smoke increase their likelihood of developing lung cancer from excess scarring of the lungs.
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Reston Hospital Center answered
Doctors use several tests to diagnose dust disease and asbestosis, because their symptoms often correlate with other bronchial diseases such as asthma. Initially, doctors will ask for a detailed history of your occupation or possible exposure to asbestos or silica. Your doctor may also ask you to perform a pulmonary function test, in which you blow through a tube that measures lung capacity. Next, your doctor may take a chest X-ray to check for small lumps of pleural plaques caused by asbestos exposure, which are distinctly recognized through an X-ray because of their white appearance. A more detailed version of a chest X-ray, a computed tomography (CT) scan can detect signs of dust disease before symptoms occur. If asbestosis or silicosis is suspected, your doctor may take a lung biopsy, or a sample of lung tissue, to check if it is cancerous.
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Reston Hospital Center answered
In industrialized countries where a ban on asbestos is in place, cases of dust diseases such as asbestos and silicosis have been declining yearly. For example, the number of deaths in the United States associated with silicosis decreased 93 percent from 1968 to 2002. While studies show that exposure to asbestos has caused an estimated 200,000 deaths in the United States, the rate of incidence for both asbestosis and silicosis has been decreasing ever since the American government started regulating asbestos usage in the mid 1970's. Today, workers in the United States who regularly encounter asbestos or silica dust are unlikely to develop serious lung diseases if they follow the safety regulations their company requires.