Why is Asbestos Referred to as the Hidden Killer?

 
 

Nearly every article you stumble across about asbestos describes it as the hidden killer. What’s so ‘hidden’ about it, and how can it kill you? You can find the answers to your burning questions below.

 

Asbestos: The Hidden Killer

Asbestos is described as a hidden killer due to its tiny fibres. This naturally-occurring fibrous mineral can be found in certain rock formations, and it’s made up of long, thin fibres that are so small they’re often not visible to the human eye.

The average length of an asbestos fibre is 0.1-10µm, which is about 0.001-0.01mm. As they are not visible to the human eye, and you can’t taste or smell them, you can inhale them without even knowing.

 

What’s So Bad About Inhaling Asbestos Fibres?

We inhale dust and other particles daily, so what’s so bad about inhaling asbestos fibres? According to the Ministry of Health, inhaling airborne asbestos fibres might put you at risk of a range of health conditions, such as:

 

  • Asbestosis – lung tissue scarring

  • Mesothelioma – cancers that develop around the intestines and lungs

  • Pleural plaques – lung membrane thickening

  • Lung, larynx, and ovary cancer

Once inhaled, the tiny fibres become stuck in sensitive tissue around the stomach and lungs, which our bodies aren’t able to break down or remove.

Over time, the asbestos fibres can cause irritation and inflammation, resulting in cell and DNA damage. Genetic changes due to that damage might lead to abnormal cell growth and cancer. Scientists haven’t confirmed a ‘safe’ level of asbestos to inhale, so someone who is exposed to asbestos once or multiple times might develop a related illness.

Making the issue even worse is that you might not have even known you inhaled asbestos fibres, and it might be several decades before an exposure event results in an illness like cancer or asbestosis. By the time symptoms present themselves, you might have just years left to live.

 

What Are the Symptoms of Asbestos-Related Illnesses?

Many symptoms can be associated with illnesses related to this hidden killer, including respiratory, digestive, throat, and even reproductive.

Respiratory symptoms can include coughing, chest pain, and shortness of breath, which relate to lung cancer, pericardial mesothelioma, and pleural mesothelioma. Some people also experience nausea, bowel movement changes, digestive issues, swelling, and pain, which are symptoms associated with stomach, colon, and ovarian cancers, and peritoneal mesothelioma.

Women who notice menstrual changes, back pain, fatigue, and pain during sex should see their doctor about a possible ovarian cancer diagnosis, with this cancer often being caused by asbestos.

 

How to Diagnose Asbestos Illnesses

Asbestos is a hidden killer, but an exposure event that leads to symptoms can eventually result in a disease diagnosis. Typically, medical professionals use some of the following methods to diagnose asbestos illnesses.

 

Imaging Tests

Imaging tests such as CT scans, MRIs, x-rays, and PET scans may allow doctors to identify tumours, inflammation, and other signs of cancer relating to your asbestos exposure event.

 

Blood Tests

Sometimes, a blood test can be all it takes to identify an abnormal blood cell count that can indicate cancer. Blood tests might also be used to determine if cancer treatment will be effective for the type of cancer you have.

 

Biopsies

If medical professionals find a tumour, they can take a tissue sample from it to determine the type of cancer and the cancer cell type. This information can allow them to form a plan of attack for how to help you.

 

How to Prevent Exposure to the Hidden Killer

Learning just how deadly asbestos is can be scary, especially when you realize it can cause terminal cancer. However, just because asbestos can still be found in our homes and businesses doesn’t mean we have to be at risk of exposure and potential diseases in the future. There are many different ways to eliminate or limit exposure, including:

 

  • Not disturbing asbestos-containing materials

  • Avoiding working with asbestos unless you’re a licensed contractor

  • Ensuring anyone working with asbestos has received adequate training

  • Following all correct safety procedures

  • Wearing personal protective equipment

  • Hiring asbestos removal experts for home and business renovations and demolition work

  • Disposing of asbestos waste safely

  • Limiting access to asbestos sites

  • Undertaking asbestos testing before renovating

 

Is Any Asbestos Safe?

Asbestos can cause cancer, but that doesn’t mean you’re not safe in your own home with asbestos-containing materials. Asbestos can be safe – as long as it’s contained within materials in good condition.

Asbestos only becomes hazardous to health once it’s broken or damaged in some way, which results in those tiny fibres being released into the air. If you have asbestos-containing building materials like vinyl or Super Six roofing, it may not pose a risk to your health when it has been well-maintained over its lifetime.

 

Leave the Hidden Killer to the Experts

Don’t take a gamble on your health. If the time has come to undertake renovations, repairs, or demolition work, call in trained asbestos experts like Chemcare to assist. They can put appropriate safety measures in place to keep you, your family, and themselves safe.

Karan Kikani