New Research on How Dust, Asbestos and Sludge Exposure Cause Respiratory Injury:
When a disaster happens, and buildings collapse, aside from the immediate impact, the long-term health consequences to victims and first response workers can be catastrophic. As buildings collapse or burn, asbestos fibers and other harmful chemicals are released into the air or water where they can be ingested or inhaled by anyone in the area. In the wake of past disasters, many people reported more upper respiratory infections such as pneumonia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and bronchial asthma. But another concern is the risk to emergency responders. They are more likely to contract diseases like asbestosis, mesothelioma, and other debilitating lung diseases.New research suggests that the disaster workers most likely to deal with severe respiratory injuries are those that handle large amounts of dust or sludge. These workers generally include rescue team members, volunteers, and construction workers. Researchers believe that the size and density of the particles in the air may affect whether more serious lung injuries occur. Previous research around the health effects of the World Trade Center collapse on September 11, 2011, bears this out. Most of the dust from the disaster involved larger debris particles that weren't able to penetrate lung tissues through the respiratory tract but did end up in the upper respiratory tract, causing infections and exacerbating other respiratory medical conditions. But some finer particles between 2.5 and 10 mm (aerodynamic diameter) were able to penetrate the lung's conductive airway and enter gas exchange airways in the deep lung. These finer, deeply penetrating dust particles can cause more severe conditions like asbestosis and mesothelioma.The authors of the new study suggest that government agencies and regulatory bodies should establish standard methods to evaluate the risk of respiratory conditions in disaster zones and for using respiratory protective equipment. In future disasters, we may be able to predict the likelihood of first responders developing malignant mesothelioma and asbestosis. The authors also suggest careful observation of disaster workers over time in order to catch mesothelioma in its earliest stages.
