Asbestos in any one of its three forms, Blue, Brown and White, causes a risk to health. Workers who have been exposed to asbestos would, in the main, have come into contact with White Asbestos (also known as Chrysotile).
Asbestos was widely regarded as being a versatile and effective material by a number of industries. However, as far back as the turn of the century it was known that asbestos workers were at great risk of developing respiratory disease.
In the 1930's a link was established between Pulmonary Fibrosis and working with asbestos. Since then a number of serious chest conditions have been conclusively linked to asbestos exposure, including:
- MESOTHELIOMA – an incurable cancer of the lining of the lung
- ASBESTOSIS – progressive fibrosis which scars the lungs
- PLEURAL PLAQUES – calcification of the lining of the lung
- PLEURAL THICKENING – thickening of the lining of the lung
- LUNG CANCER
Some of these conditions do not show any symptoms. If you have been exposed to asbestos and are concerned about any of the above you should contact your GP as soon as possible.
|
Article about the use of asbestos in building construction and its correlation with various diseases