Asbestos is a fibrous material which was commonly used in the past to insulate commercial properties. Asbestos is a very effective insulator for both keeping heat in and cold out and as nobody knew that it was a dangerous material it was used for many years. Another problem with people not knowing the risks of using asbestos is that people worked with the material without taking any precautions to protect themselves from it.
There are multiple diseases which are caused by working with asbestos or in places which use asbestos. Although some are more serious than others, all of them are extremely damaging. The most serious is Mesothelioma which is a type of cancer and damages the lower digestive tract and lining of the lung. By the time someone is diagnosed with Mesothelioma it is almost always fatal.
Then there is asbestosis which like Mesothelioma can also be fatal in the worst cases. Asbestosis usually occurs in people who have had long term exposure to asbestos, normally over a period of years. The inhaled fibres cause the inside of the lung to become scarred and over time as the condition worsens it can become more and more difficult for the sufferer to breathe.
As well as Asbestosis and Mesothelioma there is pleural thickening which isn't as serious as the others but it can cause severe discomfort and lower the person's standard of living significantly. Pleural thickening is thickening of the inner lining of the lung which lowers breathing capacity. People who suffer from pleural thickening can find themselves getting out of breath very easily and often have to give up any vigorous activity.
Finally there is also cancer which comes from exposure to asbestos. Cancer caused by asbestos is very similar to other lung cancers and is also very common with an estimated one asbestos related cancer death for every lung cancer death which occurs.
There are multiple diseases which are caused by working with asbestos or in places which use asbestos. Although some are more serious than others, all of them are extremely damaging. The most serious is Mesothelioma which is a type of cancer and damages the lower digestive tract and lining of the lung. By the time someone is diagnosed with Mesothelioma it is almost always fatal.
Then there is asbestosis which like Mesothelioma can also be fatal in the worst cases. Asbestosis usually occurs in people who have had long term exposure to asbestos, normally over a period of years. The inhaled fibres cause the inside of the lung to become scarred and over time as the condition worsens it can become more and more difficult for the sufferer to breathe.
As well as Asbestosis and Mesothelioma there is pleural thickening which isn't as serious as the others but it can cause severe discomfort and lower the person's standard of living significantly. Pleural thickening is thickening of the inner lining of the lung which lowers breathing capacity. People who suffer from pleural thickening can find themselves getting out of breath very easily and often have to give up any vigorous activity.
Finally there is also cancer which comes from exposure to asbestos. Cancer caused by asbestos is very similar to other lung cancers and is also very common with an estimated one asbestos related cancer death for every lung cancer death which occurs.