Asbestos Poisoning 1

Asbestos Poisoning 1
There are three major diseases that are triggered by asbestos poisoning. These are asbestosis, mesothelioma, and lung cancer. A more comprehensive review of these diseases can be found on separate web pages.

Asbestosis is caused when asbestos fibers are inhaled and become trapped in the lungs. In response to the foreign objects (asbestos fibers), the body tries to get rid of it by attempting to dissolve the particles by producing an acid. Unfortunately, the acid has virtually no impact on the asbestos fibers, but is detrimental to the lung tissues. With continual acid secretions, scarring of the lung tissue will lead to pulmonary fibrosis. The scarring can become so severe that it will reduce the functioning of the lungs.

Mesothelioma is a cancer of affecting the outside tissue of the lungs – the pleura, peritoneum, and pericardium. Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that is solely attributed to asbestos poisoning. Symptoms of mesothelioma may not appear until 10 to 50 years after exposure to asbestos. Shortness of breath and pain in the chest due to an accumulation of fluid in the pleura are often symptoms of pleural mesothelioma. Mesothelioma, like other cancers, can be lethal if it metastasize and invade other organs. The prognosis for mesothelioma is not good. It is estimated that people die within two to four years once mesothelioma is diagnosed.

Lung Cancer can also be caused by exposure to asbestos. Lung cancer is a malignant tumour of the lungs, and is the most lethal malignant tumor worldwide. Most commonly it is bronchogenic carcinoma - about 90% of lung cancer cases. The chances of developing lung cancer from asbestos are greatly increased with smoking. The exposure to manifestation period for lung cancer from asbestos exposure is from 15 to 35 years.