Asbestosis – Symptoms and Causes

Overview

The lungs contain many small airways that branch out like tree limbs. The largest airways (bronchi) divide into smaller tubes called bronchioles. These tiny airways end in microscopic air sacs known as alveoli.

Asbestos fibers can get trapped in these delicate structures when inhaled. Over time, this can cause inflammation and scarring. This scarring makes it harder for oxygen to pass into the bloodstream.

Risk Factors and Prevention

Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that resists heat and doesn’t break down easily. Before the 1970s, it was commonly used in:

• Building insulation
• Cement products
• Floor tiles
• Roofing materials
• Brake linings

Today, strict regulations control asbestos use.

People who work with asbestos should:

• Follow all safety guidelines
• Wear appropriate protective equipment
• Only handle asbestos if properly trained and certified

Most people diagnosed with asbestosis were exposed at work years ago, before safety rules were in place. Symptoms usually appear 10-40 years after exposure. The risk of developing this condition today is very low if proper safety measures are followed.

Signs and Symptoms

People with long-term asbestos exposure often don’t develop symptoms until 10-40 years after they were first exposed. The signs can range from mild to severe.

Rounded fingertips, also called digital clubbing, is a condition where the tips of fingers become wider and more rounded than normal. This change in finger shape is commonly associated with various lung and heart problems.

Other common symptoms that may appear with asbestos-related conditions include:

• Trouble breathing
• Long-lasting dry cough
• Pain or tightness in the chest
• Crackling sounds when breathing in
• Widened, rounded fingertips and toes

When to See a Doctor

Contact your healthcare provider if you:

• Have been exposed to asbestos in the past
• Notice you’re getting more short of breath over time

Your doctor can evaluate your symptoms and determine if asbestosis might be the cause of your breathing problems.

Causes

Asbestosis develops when you breathe in high levels of asbestos fibers over a long time. These tiny fibers travel into your lungs and become trapped in the alveoli, which are small air sacs where oxygen and carbon dioxide exchange happens.

Once inside your lungs, asbestos fibers cause irritation and scarring of lung tissue. This scarring, called fibrosis, makes your lungs stiff and unable to work properly. As the disease gets worse, more lung tissue becomes damaged and scarred.

Key factors affecting asbestosis development:

• Duration of exposure – longer exposure increases risk.
• Concentration of fibers – higher amounts cause more damage.
• Smoking habits – smokers face greater risks.

Smoking makes asbestosis worse by keeping more asbestos fibers in the lungs and speeding up the disease process. When lungs become severely scarred, they can’t expand and contract normally, making breathing difficult.

Risk Factors

People who worked with asbestos products before the late 1970s face the highest risk of developing asbestosis. This includes:

• Miners of asbestos
• Mechanics (aircraft and automobile)
• Construction workers
• Electricians
• Railroad employees
• Shipyard workers
• Mill and refinery workers
• People who removed old asbestos insulation

The risk level typically relates to both how much asbestos someone was exposed to and for how long. Greater exposure generally means greater risk of lung damage.

Family members of workers can experience secondhand exposure when asbestos fibers hitchhike home on work clothes. People who live near mining operations may also breathe in asbestos fibers released into the surrounding air.

Complications

People with asbestosis face a higher risk of lung cancer, especially those who smoke or used to smoke. In rare cases, a cancer called malignant mesothelioma can develop in the tissue surrounding the lungs many years after asbestos exposure.

This cancer affects the protective lining that covers many internal organs.

Prevention

Staying away from asbestos is the most effective way to prevent asbestosis. U.S. laws require safety measures for workers in industries that handle asbestos, like construction.

Many buildings constructed before the 1970s contain asbestos in materials such as:

• Floor tiles
• Pipe insulation
• Ceiling materials

Important safety note: Asbestos typically poses no risk when left undisturbed. The danger occurs when asbestos-containing materials get damaged, releasing fibers into the air that people might breathe in.

Never try to remove or repair asbestos on your own. Always hire trained and certified asbestos professionals. They know how to:

1. Properly inspect asbestos-containing materials
2. Safely repair damaged areas
3. Remove asbestos when necessary using proper containment methods

Regular inspections of older buildings can help identify potential asbestos hazards before they become dangerous.