What Does Asbestos Do To Lungs, What Does Asbestos Do To You Affects Of Exposure And Who Is At Risk

Asbestos is the only known risk factor for malignant mesothelioma a cancer that affects the tissue lining the lung pleura or abdomen peritoneum.

What is asbestos cancer called. Asbestos fibers are usually fine and tiny and they gain easy access inside the lungs when inhaled. The damage caused by asbestos is due to inflammation of the tissue in the lungs. They can build up in your lungs.

Asbestosis is a process of lung tissue scarring caused by asbestos fibers. How does it get in and what happens to your lungs when you are exposed. The time between exposure to asbestos and the development of cancer can be anywhere from 10 to 40 or more years.

The body attempts to rid itself of the toxic particles but some asbestos usually remains in the lungs. Once inside the lungs the body interprets the fibers as foreign materials and sends off inflammatory cells to the area to fight its presence. The fibers that form asbestos separate very easily into tiny pieces when theyre handled or damaged.

Asbestos can damage the lungs by causing cancer of the lungs throat or kidneys. Inhaling asbestos fibers increases the risk of developing lung cancer and mesothelioma a deadly cancer of the thin lining surrounding the lungs and other organs. For example asbestos was used to fireproof drywall insulate pipes and strengthen cement.

Theyre too small to see but theyre easy to breathe in. Lets take a look. Pleural plaque a disease in which the tissues around the diaphragm and lungs called the pleura thickens.

Over decades the asbestos fibers can irritate the pleura leading to inflammation and abnormal growth of mesothelial cells which can lead to mesothelioma up to 40 years after exposure. Inhaling asbestos causes microscopic fibers to become lodged within lung tissue causing damage and scarring. Until the 1970s when it was discovered that asbestos increased the risk for lung disease it was widely used in many industries in the united states.

Asbestosis is an asbestos lung disease characterized by scarring in the lungs. Asbestosis a chronic non cancerous lung disease that is characterized by scarring of the tissues. The inflammation of the lungs caused by the asbestos can also lead to mesothelioma.

Asbestos is mostly a health risk to your lungs breathing in deadly asbestos can cause permanent damage to the inner cells and the outer lining of your lungs and chest wall. The hardened pleura can compress part of the lung resulting in breathing problem. Asbestos can cause cancer.

1 2 the risk depends on how much you inhale how long ago you were exposed and whether you smoke.