$Unique_ID{BRK01603}
$Pretitle{Community and Social Problems}
$Title{The Health Risks of Asbestos}
$Subject{asbestos workplace hazards}
$Volume{Q-23}
$Log{}

Copyright (c) 1991   Tribune Media Services, Inc.


The Health Risks of Asbestos


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QUESTION:  They have discovered the presence of asbestos in the walls of my
plant.  Now they are removing it all, but I would like to know what my are the
chances that I have suffered a medical problem.  Can you tell me what risks I
may have run?

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ANSWER:  In recent years, the full picture on asbestos has begun to emerge.
What was once thought of as a simple insulation and fireproofing agent has
turned out to be a highly carcinogenic (cancer causing) substance,
particularly when its fibers break down and particles of the material float
free in the atmosphere.  Exposure to asbestos increases the risks of
developing asbestosis, a chronic lung ailment resulting in shortness of
breath, permanent lung damage, as well as increased risk of dangerous lung
infections.  A variety of cancers have also been associated with asbestos,
including lung cancer, mesothelioma (affecting the membranes lining the chest
and abdomen), and cancers of the larynx, stomach, colon, rectum, and
esophagus.
     It is impossible to give you a simple yes or no answer about yourself
without conducting a thorough physical examination, including a chest x-ray
and lung function tests.  Specialists training in evaluating such information
would examine the results to develop a prognosis.
     Complicating the picture is the fact that asbestos related diseases take
a surprisingly long time to develop--in cases of lung cancer, usually 15 years
and often between 30 and 35 years following exposure.  In cases of
mesothelioma and asbestosis, the delay can be as long as 40 to 45 years.
     By all means, check with your doctor or company or union health office
immediately.  (If the asbestos insulation currently being removed was
relatively intact and not flaking or decaying, you are probably at lower
risk.)  And if you are a smoker, this is yet another good reason to kick the
habit:  exposure to both tobacco and asbestos multiply the impact each has on
the body; smokers heavily exposed to asbestos are 90 times more likely to
develop lung cancer than non-exposed non-smokers.
ÿ
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The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace 
the counsel and advice of your personal physician.  Promptly consulting your 
doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical 
problem.
