Although many people worked with asbestos over the years with little or no protection, it is now known that exposure to this material can result in a number of diseases. Before the 1980s, the dangers of asbestos exposure were not widely known, and therefore, those working with this material were unaware that they were putting their health at risk. However, we now know that there are a number of diseases linked to asbestos exposure, including scarring of the lung tissue, respiratory disorders, and lung cancer.
One form of asbestos disease is known as asbestosis. This is where the tissue of the lungs becomes scarred through the inhalation of asbestos dust and fibers. Through inflammation and a build up of scar tissue, which result from this process, the ability of the lungs to deliver oxygen to the blood is reduced, and lung capacity may also be reduced. In some cases, this asbestos disease can be very severe, and can lead to other health problems, such as heart problems. According to figures, one in seven people who develop asbestosis go on to develop lung cancer.
Another asbestos disease is known as asbestos pleural disease and can result in pleural thickening or pleural plaques. This disease affects the lining around the lungs, known as the pleura. This is a permanent health problem for which there is no cure, although it is not malignant and symptoms can be treated. Scarring can continue even if exposure to asbestos does not.
One of the most serious asbestos diseases is mesothelioma, and this is a form of cancer that can affect the lung, heart, or abdominal regions. Mesothelioma can take between twenty and forty years to develop from the time of exposure, and there is currently no cure for this cancer. Once developed, the patient's life expectancy can be reduced to just a few months.
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