Symptoms of Asbestos Exposure: What To Look Out For

Asbestos, a mineral once commonly used in construction despite being labeled toxic in the late 1930s, is less prevalent today but can still be found in many U.S. buildings and some developing countries. Its toxic and carcinogenic properties can take years to manifest, leading to diseases like mesothelioma, lung cancer, and asbestosis, with thousands diagnosed annually long after exposure. Fortunately, there are established OSHA regulations to help workers understand and mitigate these risks.

Read more below on what asbestos is, its adverse health effects, and how to prevent exposure.

What is Asbestosis?

One of the dangers of asbestos is that its effects aren’t identifiable for decades, as many as 40 years after initial contact. Asbestosis describes the presence of asbestos fibers that are stuck in the lungs and, though not fatal on their own, lead to significant risks of medical complications.

Asbestos fibers break down so small that they are practically invisible to the naked eye, which is how workers can go for years without realizing that they have been affected. Additionally, there are risks of secondary exposure to family members of those who have been exposed.

Here are the usual symptoms of asbestosis, one of the most common conditions caused by asbestos:

• Shortness of breath
• Tightness in your chest
• Fatigue
• Persistent dry cough
• Chest pain
• Appetite loss
• Finger clubbing (enlarged fingertips)
• Nail deformities

The leading illness brought by asbestos is called pleural effusion. Pleural effusion is a fluid buildup between the protective layers of your lungs and can develop in as little as one year after exposure. This illness is not fatal but makes breathing difficult and may also indicate mesothelioma. 

How Does Asbestos Lead To Lung Cancer?

Asbestos-related lung cancer is one of the most feared effects of being thoroughly exposed to asbestos. Asbestos fibers are extremely small and don’t degrade quickly, which means when they are inhaled, they get lodged in microscopic spaces in the lungs and can’t be removed. At that point, the fibers can cause irritation, inflammation, and damage to lung tissues, which can then lead to the formation of cancerous tumors.

People who smoked and were exposed to asbestos are more likely to develop this asbestos disease. In most cases, the gestation period lasts between 15 and 35 years. In addition, asbestos is known to induce stomach cancer. Symptoms of the disease include shortness of breath, fatigue, appetite loss, and stomach pain.

What Are The Prevention Strategies For Asbestos Exposure?

Though asbestos use is dramatically lower than ever before, as other materials have been found to serve the same purpose, there are still risks to workers today. On many job sites, asbestos will be present, and you can be safe as long as you follow some guidelines. Along with recommendations from an employer, workers can protect themselves in the following ways:

• Minimize and avoid disturbance of asbestos sources until proper steps for assessment and control can be implemented.
• Never eat, drink, or smoke where asbestos is present or exposure is possible.
• Avoid dry sweeping, shoveling, or other dry clean-up of asbestos containing materials, debris, or dust.
• Prevent the release of asbestos fibers into the air by wetting materials before and during cutting, breaking, or other work that might do so.
• Wear a protective outer layer that can be removed and cleaned or discarded.
• If work involving asbestos-containing materials must be done, use a NIOSH-approved respirator to protect workers from inhaling asbestos fibers.
• Wash any parts of the body that were exposed with soap and water.
• Prevent carrying asbestos fibers from a site by ensuring proper cleaning of clothing and anything that leaves the worksite, where fibers can later be inhaled by others (e.g., by family members at home).

It is never safe to try to remove asbestos on your own without training. In many cases, a job site can have asbestos that prevents minimal risk and can, therefore, be left undisturbed. When this is not possible, and asbestos causes significant risk, trained professionals have special methods to safely remove asbestos. Do not try to do so yourself, as it severely heightens risk for you and your fellow workers.

How Can I Get Started? 

Construction site employees often face exposure to chemicals and minerals. That is why companies must prioritize a safe and hazard-free work environment. Ensuring staff receive adequate Hazards of Asbestos in the Workplace training is the most effective way to address workplace health and safety concerns, ensuring a long and sustainable career.

Companies can boost their long-term performance, customer retention, and employee safety by prioritizing Hazards of Asbestos in the Workplace training. Visit OSHA.com to choose the right training program for your employees.