Asbestos
Asbestosis
Asbestosis is a form of the lung disease pulmonary fibrosis that is caused by breathing asbestos dust particles and results in extensive scarring of the lung tissue. Asbestosis can also cause thickening of the membrane layer, called the pleura, that covers the lungs. The risk of developing asbestosis is greater among people who have ongoing exposure to asbestos, such as demolition workers who work on old buildings that are insulated with material containing asbestos. The greater and longer the exposure to asbestos-containing materials, the higher the risk becomes. Asbestosis also greatly increases the risk of lung cancer in cigarette smokers, especially those who smoke more than one pack of cigarettes a day and experience prolonged exposure to asbestos.Symptoms and Diagnosis
Symptoms may not be evident until many scars have formed in the lung tissue and make the lungs less elastic. Initial symptoms include mild shortness of breath and a reduced capacity for strenuous activity. Coughing and wheezing are common among people who smoke heavily or have chronic bronchitis in addition to asbestosis. Over time, breathing becomes increasingly difficult. In severe cases, people with asbestosis develop severe shortness of breath and respiratory failure.
In some cases, the condition causes inflammation in the pleural space, the space between the two membranes that surround the lungs. In rare cases, exposure to asbestos can lead to fluid accumulation or to a malignant tumor called mesothelioma.
Diagnosis of asbestosis is based on a clinical history that includes prolonged exposure to asbestos combined with characteristic chest X-ray findings and the detection with a stethoscope of abnormal lung sounds called “crackles,” which are typical of asbestosis and pulmonary fibrosis.
Treatment and Prevention
Some of the more common treatments for asbestosis are oxygen therapy and procedures that drain fluid from around the lungs. The best form of prevention is very straightforward – eliminate future asbestos exposure. Smoking cessation in those who smoke is essential to treating the condition. In severe cases, lung transplantation may be the only effective treatment.Prevention of asbestosis focuses on minimizing or eliminating asbestos dust and fibers in the workplace. Asbestos must be removed from schools and homes by skilled workers who have been trained in safe removal techniques.