The Effect of Asbestos on Humans

Asbestos exposure is most common in workplace settings like construction sites.

Asbestos, a group of minerals characterized by their ability to be split into thin, largely nonreactive fibers, can pose a serious risk to humans. Exposure to asbestos can raise your risk for several conditions including lung cancer.

Why Asbestos is Dangerous

As the National Cancer Institute asserts, asbestos can affect humans when an asbestos-containing product is disturbed in such a way that the asbestos fibers become released into the air. Humans may breathe in these fibers, which can become permanently trapped in the lungs, causing scarring and inflammation.

Asbestos-Related Conditions

According to the National Cancer Institute, asbestos increases the risk of developing lung cancer, mesothelioma, asbestosis, and other lung and pleural conditions.

Time Frame

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), harmful effects of asbestos exposure often don't manifest themselves for a long time after exposure. Among asbestos workers, diagnosis of lung cancer or asbestosis usually occurs 15 years or more after initial exposure, while diagnosis of mesothelioma often does not take place until at least 30 years after exposure.

Factors

As the CDC notes, asbestos is more likely to cause harmful effects when people are exposed to asbestos for longer amounts of time or are exposed to higher concentrations.

Smoking

Asbestos has particularly harmful effects on smokers. A smoker who has been exposed to asbestos has a lung cancer risk that is higher than that of the two individual risks combined.

References

• National Cancer Institute: Asbestos Exposure and Cancer Risk
• Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry: Asbestos