Public Employee Press

Safety Spotlight
Asbestos diseases

What is asbestosis?
Asbestosis is a disease caused by asbestos mineral fibers in the lungs. The fibers are small and not visible in the air. When asbestos is breathed into the lungs, tissues become swollen and scarred. Asbestos disease is more common among workers exposed to higher concentrations of asbestos in the air or exposed for more years.

What jobs are at risk?
Asbestos mining and milling. Manufacturing and installing insulation and friction materials for brakes and clutches. Manufac-turing and using asbestos cement, textiles and spray-products for fireproofing, soundproofing and decoration. Demolition by asbestos removers, electricians, carpenters and plumbers. Workers’ contaminated clothes may also expose their families.

What happens in asbestosis?
Symptoms occur 10 to 20 years after exposure and include cough and increasing difficulty breathing. Lung scarring cuts the amount of air the lungs can take in, reducing the amount of oxygen in the blood.

What other diseases are related to asbestos exposure?
Cancer of the lungs, colon or kidneys and mesothelioma, cancer of the lining of the lungs or the abdomen. Asbestos-related cancer occurs from 10 to even 40 years after exposure, even if the worker is no longer in contact with asbestos. Asbestos workers who smoke have a much greater risk of lung cancer.

Is there a treatment?
Early detection is very important. Medical examination should include occupational and medical history, a physical exam, breathing tests, chest X-ray and analysis of the stool for hidden blood. Quitting smoking is strongly recommended. Respiratory tract infections are treated with antibiotics and prevented with vaccination (flu, pneumonia). Lung cancer and mesothelioma are treated on an individual basis. Workers who develop asbestos-related disease may get Worker’s Compensation.

Where can I get help?
Occupational medicine doctors are specially trained in recognizing and treating asbestos disease. Call the Mount Sinai-I.J. Selikoff Center for Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Manhattan (212-241-9059), Queens (718-278-2736) and Yonkers (914-964-4737).