Asbestos and Respiratory Diseases
Could your job be making you sick? For too many workers, that's a real danger. The air they breathe on the job is a health hazard. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), occupationally-related airway diseases, including asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
(COPD), pose a significant public health threat. CDC says nearly 30 percent of COPD and adult asthma may be attributable to occupational exposure and more than 20 million U.S. workers are exposed to substances that can cause airway diseases.
Asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (primarily chronic bronchitis and emphysema) are diseases of the lung airways. CDC says both diseases can be brought on by exposure to irritants in the workplace. In addition, many workers are unaware that pre-existing asthma and COPD may be worsened by the work environment.
On-the-job hazards
What kind of irritants are we talking about? Here's are some examples, compiled from CDC, the American Lung Association (ALA), and the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP):
* Asbestos was commonly used as an insulator and fire retardant until scientists discovered that asbestos fibers are deadly, potentially causing asbestosis ( scarring of lung tissues) and lung cancer. Workers most at risk of asbestos exposure include those in mining, construction, demolition, shipyards, tiling, electrical insulation, and paving, among other industries. ALA says it can be years between exposure to asbestos and development of symptoms.
* Dust can come from such things as wood, cotton, coal, asbestos, silica and talc. ALA says dusts from textile processing cause byssinosis ("brown lung"), a chronic condition involving obstruction of the small airways. Coal dust causes coal workers' pneumoconiosis or "black lung," also an obstruction of the small airways. Silica affects workers in mines, foundries, blasting operations, and stone, glass, and clay manufacturing.
Fumes can be given off by metals that are heated and cooled quickly, according to AAFP. Examples of jobs that involve exposure to such fumes are welding, smelting, furnace work, pottery making, plastics manufacture and rubber operations.
* Toxins found in various grains are a risk for hundreds of thousands of agricultural workers. Moldy hay can produce flu-like symptoms according to AAFP. Farm workers are also at risk of exposure to hair, feathers, animal dander, and bacteria.
* Anthrax is caused by the bacterium Bacillus anthracis. It most commonly occurs in hoofed mammals such as sheep, cattle, horses, and goats. Farm workers,veterinarians, and those who work tanning hides or processing wool are at risk of contracting the disease by inhaling spores of the bacterium. In addition to inhaled anthrax, there is also a skin form of anthrax.
* Gases such as formaldehyde, ammonia, and chlorine, can be found in jobs where chemical reactions occur and in jobs with high heat operations, such as welding and furnace work.
* Vapors can be given off by solvents, and usually irritate the nose and throat first, before they affect the lungs according to AAFP.
* Paints, lacquers, hair spray, pesticides, cleaning products, acids, and solvents can also cause damage to the airways.
* Latex allergies have become a major problem for health care workers, as a result of increased use of protective gloves. CDC says studies show that over one in fifty healthcare workers have developed latex-related asthma.
* If someone is exposed to carcinogens or irritants at work, smoking can make things much worse. ALA says smokers who are exposed to such carcinogens as asbestos and radiation, greatly increase their chances of getting lung cancer and other lung diseases.
Symptoms
Exposure to any of the above substances can produce a wide range of symptoms. These can range from a runny nose and scratchy throat, to bronchitis, persistent cough, fever, and problems breathing. AAFP says that if a worker develops unusual symptoms after switching to a new job, for example, or after being at a particular job for awhile, this could indicate a work-related disorder.
In addition, if someone develops asthma for the first time as an adult, it could be related to something at their job. Asthma symptoms include wheezing, a persistent dry cough or trouble breathing. Emphysema is another condition that can develop after exposure to workplace dangers, including coal, asbestos or silica dust. Symptoms include cough, fatigue, chest tightness and difficulty breathing.
If you suspect a work-related respiratory condition, it's important to talk with your doctor. You should also start keeping a written record of things you notice about your condition, according to AAFP, including:
* when symptoms started
* how often they occur
* if they get worse or better at certain times of the day or on certain days
* what potential hazards you may be exposed to at work, as well as what precautions you have been told to follow when around these hazards
* what days and shifts you work and how these relate to the way you feel
You can also talk with other workers to see if they're experiencing unusual symptoms, as well as your supervisors. Depending on the type of exposure, solutions can include more ventilation as well as changes in work practices and/or machinery. It's also important that anyone who is concerned about lung exposure quit smoking if they haven't already done so.
The Dangers of Asbestos
Learn the dangers of asbestos. Before 1972 the most common element used to insulate buildings was asbestos. Only later did we find out that breathing in the element could result in lung restrictive illnesses and death.
Until 1972, most of the buildings in this country were constructed with asbestos, including schools, offices and homes. At the time, no one had any idea that when inhaled asbestos was deadly. Today, people and asbestos precariously coexist in old buildings. However, it is only when asbestos is disturbed that it becomes a health threat to human beings.
Asbestos is a naturally occurring material that was used commonly in buildings for insulation. Asbestos fibers are exceptionally strong and are resistant to heat. Asbestos is commonly found in ceiling tiles, flooring and pipes.
Asbestos only becomes a danger when it is disturbed, causing the fibers to become airborne. This is commonly referred to as friable asbestos, while intact asbestos is referred to as non-friable asbestos. Friable asbestos has become airborne and the human lungs are now susceptible to breathing in the airborne fibers. Research has yet to determine a safe level of exposure to asbestos, but one thing is for certain; the more prolonged the exposure, the greater the risk becomes for developing an asbestos related disease.
Doctors often compare the dangers associated with asbestos to those of smoking cigarettes. The more cigarettes one smokes, the greater the danger for developing lung cancer. Similarly, the more one is exposed to asbestos, the greater the chance for developing an asbestos related disease. This is why asbestos poisoning is often called an occupational hazard disease, because the people who commonly work with the material are the most at risk for developing an asbestos related disease.
There are three diseases that are triggered by inhaling asbestos fibers: asbestosis, mesothelioma, and lung cancer. Asbestosis is caused when asbestos fibers are inhaled and become trapped in the lungs. In response, the body tries to dissolve the fibers by producing an acid. While not destroying the fibers, the acid serves to scar the lung tissue. Eventually the scarring can become so severe that the lungs become unable to function. The time from exposure to the manifestation of asbestosis in most patients is between 25 to 40 years. Mesothelioma is a cancer of the outside tissue of the lungs.
This cancer is solely linked to asbestos. The time from exposure to manifestation of mesothelioma is from 15 to 35 years. Cancer of the lungs can also be caused by exposure to asbestos. However, 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.
Despite many common myths, initial exposure cannot be detected by medical x-rays or physiological symptoms. Asbestos exposure does not cause headaches, fever, or muscle aches. The symptoms of exposure go unnoticed for at least 15 years. However, at the time of manifestation, doctors can determine asbestos exposure.
The risk of being exposed to asbestos is increased by the presence of construction. Work on ceilings and flooring can cause the asbestos to become friable. This is why non-friable asbestos is often recommended to be left in tact and not removed. Asbestos does not just chip away or decompose, it must be physically disturbed to pose a threat to human health.
If asbestos is required to be removed, either before or during a construction project, or due to an accidental disturbance, state laws require that certain precautions and procedures take place. These regulations aim to ensure that the appropriate steps are taken during an abatement procedure, and all health and safety precautions are taken.
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