If you have seen the news in the last few weeks, we have no doubt that you may have seen the BBC’s ‘Asbestos Alley’ news headlines. A 114-year old building, owned by the BBC has been linked to the mesothelioma deaths of 11 former staff members who were exposed to asbestos dust whilst working within the building.
The saddening stories have once again raised the public’s awareness of the dangers of asbestos exposure. As an accredited asbestos removal company, we are well aware of the dangers asbestos exposure can pose.
Factors influencing the risk of asbestos-related illnesses
Although exposure to asbestos in any circumstance can be dangerous, there are a multitude of factors which can influence the likelihood of someone developing an illness related to asbestos exposure. The most common 4 categories include:
The quantity
The amount of asbestos that a person is exposed to will impact the severity of the asbestos-related illnesses. Exposure to a small amount of asbestos over a short time period is not likely to lead to more serious health issues, such as cancer. If a person is working on a site which has an abundance of asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) in various forms the risk of illness is naturally much higher.
Duration
As with the quantity, the length of time a person is exposed to damaged or broken asbestos materials will increase the level of danger that person is in. In the case of Asbestos Alley, many staff members who suffered serious health conditions were exposed to ACMs over the course of many years. This has also been seen in many warehouse workers or construction personnel, who were exposed to (or even used) ACMs in their day to day work before the use of asbestos was banned.
Asbestos type
For those who are not familiar with asbestos, you may be shocked to learn that there is not one singular type of asbestos. In the UK, those most common types of asbestos included Chrysotile (White Asbestos), Amosite (Brown Asbestos) and Crocidolite (Blue Asbestos).
Individual health factors
When looking at someone’s risk factor, personal health must also be considered. For example, does the person smoke? If so, they may be more at risk as their lungs are likely to already be somewhat damaged. In addition, pre-existing lung conditions such as asthma can also put someone at a higher risk.
The health risks of asbestos
Asbestos is often linked to a number of very serious health conditions, the most common of which we have listed below.
Asbestosis
Asbestosis is a lung condition which can develop after years of asbestos exposure. The asbestos fibres can be inhaled by a person, which then become lodged in the airway or lungs. This causes scarring and other damage, leading to Asbestosis. It can be difficult to diagnose this condition as early symptoms can include shortness of breath, which can be attributed to many other conditions. Although this condition is not a type of cancer, it can put the person at greater risk of developing asbestos-related cancers such as Mesothelioma.
Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma is a type of cancer which often develops in the lungs or the abdomen as a result of asbestos exposure. As this is an aggressive type of cancer, the treatments are equally extensive including surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy.
Pleural thickening
Pleural thickening occurs when the lining of the lungs (the pleura) becomes swollen and thickens, as a result of exposure to ACMs. It can be a sign of asbestos exposure as the increased swelling can indicate an increase in scar tissue, as we discussed with Asbestosis.
What to do if you have asbestos-containing materials on your site?
If you suspect ACMs are present or have had an asbestos survey which has confirmed the presence of asbestos, your next step is to hire a professional asbestos removal or remediation company. By employing trained and accredited professionals, you can ensure that exposure to asbestos is greatly reduced.
Contact our experts today to discuss your asbestos.
