How can I protect myself from asbestos?

Asbestos is a very unique material in many ways and is the name for a combination of minerals found naturally.  Some of asbestos’ defining traits include fibers that can be woven, exhibit high tensile strength, are fire resistance, and have a high electrical resistance.  In addition to its exclusive properties, the way asbestos affects people is also exceptional.  Most illnesses and diseases have a latency period.  This means that an ailment may be present in the body, but has not yet revealed itself with the accompanying signs or symptoms.  For most diseases, the latency periods are short lived, lasting a matter of days or weeks.  Asbestos related diseases on the other hand, can lay dormant anywhere from 10-30 years.  During the exposure process, in whatever forms that may be, the asbestos fibers in an area can continue to breakdown further and further into smaller segments.  These extremely small fibers can remain airborne for days after an initial disturbance.  These small pieces can either be inhaled or ingested.  A health issue can form when asbestos fibers settle into the lungs and the pleural cavity.  During the latency period, those fibers begin scaring the body and after so long may develop into a number of asbestos related diseases including asbestosis, mesothelioma, or lung cancer.  For all these reasons it is hard to know if your exposure to asbestos will affect your health.  So how can you know?

Although asbestos related diseases can take years to surface, there are certain groups of people that are more at risk than others.  The most obvious and catalyzing factor in this equation is a person’s profession.  According to a study done by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) the majority of people who have died as a result of asbestos exposure were workers employed in the following fields: mining, milling, insulating, ship building, manufacturing, and construction.  Also, keep in mind that this study conducted in 2000 included many people who worked in these fields with little or no precaution or protective equipment.  Since then, both the EPA and OSHA have mandated safe work practices to prevent illness and death based on what we’ve learned of this complex material.  Besides a specific profession there are several factors that contribute to a person’s risk.  The amount of exposure a person encounters can determine what affect the asbestos will have on a person.  The CDC also states that asbestos is inescapable in our ever growing industrial world.  Most people come in contact with small amounts of asbestos throughout their life with no adverse effects.  An equally important factor of asbestos exposure is how long the exposure lasted.  Once again this goes back to people who encounter it daily, perhaps at work, versus simply doing a home renovation for a week.  The size, shape, and chemical makeup of the asbestos can also be a factor.  Finally, the presence of other lung diseases plays a vital role in the susceptibility of an asbestos related disease.  Smoking cigarettes will significantly affect lung health in relation to asbestos.  For example, if someone habitually smokes cigarettes and also is exposed to asbestos, they are ten times more likely to develop lung cancer.  Smoking also overlaps into individual characteristics which can affect the body’s response to asbestos.  Along with smoking, a person’s age, gender, nutritional status, family traits and general state of health all play a role. 

If an asbestos related disease is something that is a possibility for you, or you know that you have been exposed, there are some proactive steps you can take.  Firstly, prevention is the best defense.  This means if there is an asbestos threat in your home of workplace, it should be addressed promptly

.  Call an asbestos inspection firm to assess the suspect asbestos material and handle it accordingly.  If handling asbestos is part of your job be sure to take the proper precautions.  This means wearing protective clothing, a properly fitting respirator, and decontaminating yourself before going home.  If you know that you have been exposed to asbestos it is important to monitor your health after the fact.  Unlike most diseases, asbestos will not show signs and symptoms for many years.  Asbestos will not make you cough or sneeze.  It will not make your throat or skin itch.  Therefore, if you know you’ve been exposed it is best to go see a physician.  A medical exam in relation to asbestos exposure should entail a medical and work history, a breathing test, and a chest x-ray. 

With all that we now know about asbestos, its health effects, and prevention, there is still no way to know how much exposure is too much.  Due to the long latency period, all a person can do is be as cautious as possible.  If your job requires you to be around asbestos, exercise safe work practices and wear protective gear.  Quit smoking.