Asbestos in the Lungs:
We often hear about asbestos and how dangerous it is, but what is it and how does it harm us?
What Is Asbestos?
Asbestos is a group of six very similar naturally occurring minerals. They can be pulled into fibers and added to cloth, cement or building materials. Because asbestos is fire resistant, up until the 1980’s, the material was often used as a fire retardant in clothes and building materials or insulation. However, inhalation of asbestos can lead to mesothelioma, a type of cancer of the lining of the lungs or abdomen. Asbestos is now banned in 52 countries and its use in the U.S. is highly restricted.
How Are People Exposed to Asbestos?
Small fibers of asbestos can enter the air or water from the wearing down of asbestos products or from natural deposits. When it enters the environment, it doesn’t evaporate or dissolve. Instead, asbestos fibers can be suspended in air or water and then inhaled or ingested.People who live near an asbestos mine or manufacturing plant can be exposed through the environment. Those who work with asbestos or asbestos-containing products can be exposed to asbestos fibers as well. For example, insulation workers, asbestos abatement professionals, or auto mechanics can be exposed to asbestos if they fail to wear the proper protective gear. Similarly, custodians, maintenance workers or construction contractors who are making repairs or installations in buildings with asbestos materials can also be exposed. In some cases, people can ingest asbestos fibers in water that travels through cement pipes containing asbestos.
What Happens to Asbestos in the Body?
When you breathe in asbestos fibers, some will be exhaled but some will also be deposited in air passages and on the cells that make up the lungs. Some of these fibers will be coughed up in mucus and swallowed into the stomach. A portion of these ingested fibers will pass through the digestive system and be excreted in feces or urine. Others will penetrate cells lining the stomach or intestines or be carried by the blood to other tissues in the body. Some fibers deposited in the deepest part of the lungs may remain there for years or for your entire life.To learn more about what happens when asbestos fibers enter the lungs, be sure to read Asbestos in the Lungs Part 2.If you’ve been diagnosed with mesothelioma as a result of exposure to asbestos, you may be entitled to compensation and assistance. For a FREE consultation, call the Madeksho Law Firm at 1-888-910-MESO, or contact us here.
