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Asbestos Related Illnesses
Asbestos is a rock that breaks down into thin strands, or as they're more comonly known; fibres. Asbestos is essentially a rock so when its strong fibres enter the body they cannot be broken down by our normal self-defence systems. Thus, when inhaled into the lungs they remain there often entering the soft lining. This can cause serious breathing disorders and cancers. Asbestos was used in various building materials such as thermal insulation, floor tiles, fireproofing materials, textured coatings (Artex) and bitumen adhesives between 1930 and 1999 (when it was banned). As a result asbestos containing materials (ACMs) are still found in properties throughout the UK. When these materials are damaged (or even disturbed) their fibres can become airborne making them easy to inhale. Those that regularly work in the presence of damaged ACMs are most at risk. Workers in occupations such as asbestos removal, electricians, building, IT networking, demolition, shipbuilding, plumbing & heating installation, railworking , fireproofing, insulating, roofing and double glazing are all at risk. Others that work or live in buildings that containing damaged ACMs are also at risk. The government have brought in strict legislation (including the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006) to protect workers from exposure to asbestos. Meanwhile, workers that have previously been exposed to asbestos fibres are still developing problems that include; PLEURAL MESOTHELIOMAPleural Mesothelioma is a cancer that develops in the thick lining around the lungs - called the pleura. Eventually it spreads to the lung itself, the chest walls and occasionally pericardium of the heart. Mesothelioma will typically take between 30 and 40 years from exposure to develop. and unfortunately there is no known cure. Instances of pleural mesothelioma are on the increase and will not peak for another 20 years. There are already over 2,000 people diagnosed per year and around 75% of these have been exposed to asbestos. LUNG CANCERCancers occur when a damaged cell within the body mutates and forms into a tuma. The body will normally destroy damaged cells but occasionally one will sip through the net. The risk of this happening increases when you introduce something into the body that causes cell damage; cigarette smoke for example. There is evidence to suggest that asbestos fibres cause similar cell damage and that high and sustained exposure to asbestos fibres will often result in lung cancer. If you smoke and have asbestos fibres in your lungs you will also greatly increase your changes of developing cancer. ASBESTOSISAsbestosis is a lung disease that develops as a result of lung scarring caused by long-term inhalation of asbestos fibres. The scar tissue, or ‘fibrosis’, is hard and inflexible; this makes the lungs stiffen and stops them functioning making it difficult to breathe. The disease is chronic and progressive and may take five to 20 years before symptoms develop. Asbestosis eventually causes breathlessness, tightness in the chest, persistent coughing and the skin may have a bluish tinge from lack of oxygen. Getting enough oxygen from each breath will take much greater effort. Asbestosis wil often lead to respiratory failure and death. There is no cure for this disease PLEURAL DISORDERSThe presence of asbestos fibres in the lung will often damage the tissue around the lungs (the pleura) and reduce lung capacity. This can effect breathing and will occasionally develop into Mesothelioma. |