Why is Asbestos Dangerous
People often ask Why is Asbestos Dangerous? Asbestos is dangerous because of how it contains tiny cancer-causing fibres that are released into the air when it is damaged or disturbed.
These fibres are tiny – roughly 600 times thinner than a human hair. Hence they cannot be easily detected or avoided. However, inhalation over a prolonged period of time can be deadly, and by the time that asbestos-related disease is diagnosed, it is usually too late and the prognosis is fatal.
The primary diseases caused by asbestos are:
- Asbestosis – scarring of lung tissue that eventually restricts one’s ability to inhale.
- Lung Cancer – with the risk being some 50 times greater for those who smoke
- Mesothelioma – a rare and even more deadly type of cancer of the lung lining and chest wall
What if I’ve been exposed to asbestos?
It is important to note that the risk of Lung Cancer and Mesothelioma increases with the number of asbestos fibres inhaled over time. Those who develop asbestos-related diseases have usually (but not always) been exposed to high levels of asbestos for a prolonged period of time.
Particularly at risk are those who would have come into contact with Asbestos Containing Materials (ACMs) that were sawed, scraped, sanded, etc., such as construction workers and shipyard workers who handled ACMs during the peak of its popularity. Tradesmen who frequently work on buildings constructed between the 1950s and 1980s continue to be at risk.
Most people exposed to small levels of asbestos, as we all are, do not develop asbestos-related disease. However, that is no cause for complacency, as even small levels of asbestos fibre inhalation can cause health problems for some. And worryingly, symptoms do not quickly show up. It usually takes between 20 and 30 years from first exposure to asbestos for them to develop to a noticeable point.
Symptoms of asbestos-related disease
Symptoms of asbestos-related disease include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Shortness of breath
- A persistent cough or a change in cough pattern
- Blood in the fluid coughed up
- Pain in the chest or abdomen
- Difficulty in swallowing or prolonged hoarseness
- Significant weight loss
People who have been exposed to asbestos and who develop such symptoms should immediately inform their doctor. Medical examinations, including a lung function test and a chest X-ray, may be required. It is important to also give your medical practitioners as much information as possible about the circumstances and duration of your exposure to asbestos.
Why is Asbestos Dangerous? Thousands of deaths each year
The Health & Safety Executive estimates there are 5,000 asbestos-related deaths in the UK each year. This figure will rise to 10,000 per annum in the coming years.
This is why asbestos management and asbestos removal and disposal has become so important.
For any needs related to Asbestos Surveys, Asbestos Removal and Asbestos Disposal in Hampshire, Surrey, Dorset, West Sussex, Berkshire, Wiltshire, Kent, and Greater London, Meyer Southern Ltd. are here to help. Expert help, provided efficiently, and professionally, but at some of the most competitive rates available.
To get in touch, just use quick enquiry form on this page, e-mail admin@meyerenvironmental.co.uk, or telephone 0239 307 2182.
