Asbestos, instead of crushing up into dust particles, divides into millions of fine fibers. These fibers can become airborne. The inhalation of asbestos fibers can cause serious illnesses, including:
• Lung cancer
• Mesothelioma (the uncontrolled growth of cells in the linings of the chest and/or the abdominal cavity)
• Asbestosis
• Other cancers (Gastrointestinal Cancers)
Asbestosis
Asbestos fibers that escapes the nasal hair, cough and mucous/cilia defense mechanisms reaches the deep part of the lung. Once deposited there the body sends out macrophage cells to destroy the asbestos fibers. However the macrophage are not always able to engulf and digest the inhaled fibers. This process results in scarring of the lung tissue. Scarred lung tissue prevents the passage of oxygen and carbon dioxide between the blood and lungs. As more asbestos is inhaled, the extent of scarring become greater and the lungs ability to breathe normally decreases.
The scarring process is long and slow. Health problems do not usually appear until 10-20 years after the first exposure. This “waiting” or “developing” period is known as the latency period.
Lung cancer
Lung cancer is caused by many agents the most common being cigarette smoke. Toxic agents such as asbestos or cigarette smoke, can produce a malignant growth or tumor in the lung tissue. Lung cancer is a malignant, invasive growth or tumor occurring in the lungs.
Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma is a malignant cancerous tumor that spreads rapidly throughout the cells of membranes covering the lungs and body organs. Most people who contract this cancer will eventually die. The tumors can develop either on the pleural (lung and chest) cavity linings or the peritoneal (abdominal) cavity lining. The cancer may grow outward through the areas between the lungs. The abdominal and chest cavities can become filled with cancerous masses. Organs can be crushed or cut off from the rest of the body. Mesothelioma often has the longest latency period of all asbestos related diseases (35-45 years). Death occurs within one year after diagnosis of the disease.
Other cancers
Gastrointestinal or digestive system cancers have been linked to ingestion of asbestos material. The average rate for developing digestive system cancers is increased for asbestos workers. Some of these cancers include cancer of the esophagus, stomach, colon and pancreas.
Pleural Plaques, Effusion and Thickering
The pleura is the delicate lining which surrounds the chest cavity and each lung. A pleural plaque is a build-up of scar tissue on the lining surrounding the rb cage. Pleural effusion is a build-up of fluid in pleural lining and pleural thickening is a hardening of this lining which causes pressure against the lung, thus restringing breathing.
Asbestos bodies
Sometimes the body actually coats the asbestos fibers with iron-rich proteins. These coated fibers are called asbestos bodies and they may be found in the sputum or phlegm as well as the lung. These bodies help to clog the lung and inhibit the flow of oxygen. Amphibole fibers are more prone to forming asbestos bodies.
Asbestos Hazard
Αsbestos is a Class 1 carcinogen and there is sufficient evidence of carcinogenicity in humans. In Greece the use of asbestos products was banned in 1.1.2005. Exposure in asbestos can cause asbestos related diseases for people that were inhaled and exposed to high concentrations of asbestos fibers.
During asbestos abatement the employer shall ensure that no employee is exposed to an airborne concentration of asbestos in excess of 0.1 fiber per cubic centimeter of air (0.1 f/cc) for an eight hour shift (TWA) When the TWA is exceeded, engineering controls and respiratory protection must be provided, and a regulated area must be established.
The final clearance limit after an asbestos abatement is 0,010 f/cc (PD 212/2006)
For the protection of the workers and the environment during an asbestos abatement project, employees must use personal protective equipment (PPE) engineering controls and work practices to reduce exposure, including negative filtered air pressure and wet methods. The negative filtered air machine filters the air leaving the work area free of released fibers. Wet methods keep fibers from entering the air. Monitor the use of personal protective equipment including respirators. Take air samples for employees and work areas. Place signs at all entrances to work areas. Label all Asbestos-containing material. Dispose of Asbestos waste properly.
World Health Organization (WHO) and European Union (and Greece as a member of E.U.) have not set a limit for asbestos concentration in drinking water.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S.A) has set a maximum Contaminant level in drinking water at 7 million fibers per liter (MFL).