Asbestos Poisoning: What You Need to Know

The rate of asbestos-related poisoning is increasing alarmingly. The 3000 new diagnosis yearly is an indication you should not ignore. Asbestos poisoning can happen to anyone. Asbestos is everywhere. It is in the air and drinking water from natural sources. It can be on those antique telephones and appliances dating back to the 30s and 60s. For all you know your house is sitting on top of an asbestos landfill.

Before turning on your panic button, understand that asbestos when not disturbed or damaged, can do no harm. The danger arises when asbestos-made materials or the minerals in rocks are pulverized. Hundreds and thousands of invisible and odorless threads of asbestos are inhaled into the lungs and the trouble starts.

Because it is inhaled, the lungs become the target area for the asbestos poisoning. Asbestosis is caused by the trapped asbestos fibers lodged in the lungs. The lungs start to fight back by secreting acids to dislodge the asbestos particles but the same acids can cause scarring of the lungs. When severe scarring occurs, lung impairment and pulmonary fibrosis result.

When the asbestos fibers penetrate the covering of the lung’s outer surface, plaques can form. When the plaques are widespread, lung function can be impaired and later on the plaques can lead to the growth of cancerous cells in the pleural area. Mesothelioma is also another result of asbestos poisoning. This cancer occurs in the mesothelial cells protecting the major organs, i.e. lungs, heart, and abdominal cavity. The cancer becomes lethal when it travels to other body organs.

Lung cancer (mesothelioma) is another result of exposure to asbestos. The disease develops in 35 years or 15 years. Once detected, it has to be surgically removed or blasted with cancer killing rays or treated with chemotherapy. It is a leading cause of mesothelioma. If the asbestos threads are lodge on the skin, one can develop asbestosis warts. The skin becomes inflamed and callous-like growths develop around the affected area. Generally, this is not life-threatening.

If you are in the real estate business of buying old houses and selling them after repairs and renovations, you are exposing yourself, the workers, and the new tenants to asbestos poisoning. Houses built in the 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s, and early 70s have asbestos insulation, wires, and pipes. During those times the dangers of asbestos was not understood. Have an asbestos expert evaluate the houses and remove the asbestos before starting repairs or demolishing the property.

Check out the vinyl flooring and insulation materials of your home or apartment and car pads or gaskets as these might contain asbestos. Just check it checked out by a trained expert. Get a booklet about asbestos; this will help you greatly to get around the deadly substance that can be found right in your own home.

Inform your family and friends about the dangers of asbestos that may be lurking in their homes. If you suspect that you might have asbestos poisoning, see a doctor immediately. The earlier you get medical advice treatments can be started for the poisoning caused by asbestos.