Exposure to asbestos is harmful to health.
Asbestos is a term used synonymously with asbestos . However, these concepts refer to different types of minerals . Therefore, to understand what asbestos is, it is worth also remembering the definition of asbestos.
The Greek word asbestos (which can be translated as “without stain” ) passed into Latin as amiantus and then came into our language as asbestos. It is a silicate of iron, alumina and lime that is non-combustible and has whitish fibers and great flexibility.
As for asbestos, its etymological journey begins in the Greek asbestos and continues in the Latin asbestos before reaching Spanish. Asbestos is also a mineral and has characteristics similar to asbestos, although its fibers are rigid and hard . This particularity of the fibers, therefore, differentiates asbestos from asbestos.
Asbestos and health
It is important to note that asbestos and asbestos are harmful to health . In ancient times, warnings were already recorded about the health risk involved in handling these minerals. For this reason, asbestos is currently banned in several European countries and its use has been reduced.
Beyond warnings and prohibitions, asbestos is still used in various contexts thanks to its chemical, physical and mechanical properties. The material is also easy to obtain. It cannot be ignored, however, that inhaling asbestos can cause a disease known as asbestosis , which can be complicated by chronic obstructive pulmonary disease ( COPD ) or cancer .
Those who smoke are exposed to a higher risk of suffering negative consequences from contact with asbestos.
Aspects to consider
It is important to note that there are several factors that can affect the risk of contracting a disease linked to asbestos, and their study is key for health professionals to know which path to take when treating a patient. The points to take into account are the following:
- Dose : This is the volume of this mineral to which the person has been exposed.
- Duration : How long the exposure to asbestos has lasted.
- Personal factors : this group includes certain personal problems that may impact the risk , such as a lung disease that the patient had before contact with asbestos, or certain negative health habits, such as smoking.
- Characteristics of the fibers : before being able to estimate the risk of developing a disease as a result of exposure to asbestos, it is very important to analyze the characteristics of the source, and this includes the chemical composition of its fibers, their shape and their size.
While all types of asbestos pose dangers to our health, each type is linked to different risks. For example, various scientific studies indicate that chrysotile asbestos is less dangerous than amphibole asbestos, especially if we focus on the risk of mesothelioma, since it may take longer to be removed from the lungs.
With respect to smoking, mentioned in the previous list of risk factors, it is known that smokers have a higher risk of suffering from lung cancer than others, and this results in their exposure to asbestos increasing this probability. For smokers who cannot avoid contact with this material for work reasons, there is at least the possibility of considering quitting tobacco, since this would have a positive impact on the risk.
Symptoms of inappropriate exposure to asbestos
Some of the most common symptoms of inappropriate exposure to asbestos, and for which it is recommended to consult a doctor, are the following:
- Abnormal weight loss.
- Difficulty swallowing food.
- Tension or pain in the chest.
- Hoarseness, wheezing or shortness of breath.
- Lack of strength to perform daily tasks or to stay awake:
- Coughing up phlegm and blood, which gets worse over time.