9 Eylül 2009 Çarşamba

Asbestos Disease



Asbestos is a fibrous mineral, of which there are various types. The fibres are very narrow and are therefore easily respirable. Their resistance to chemical dissolution means that they will persist for a long time - perhaps indefinitely once they have settled in the lung.
When the asbestos fibres become airborne, people working with asbestos may inhale particles. These particles remain in the lungs and, over time, can cause asbestos disease. A person’s chance of developing asbestos-related disease depends on how much asbestos they were exposed to and for how long.
There are four main asbestos disease associated with inhalation of asbestos fibres. These are asbestosis (a scarring of the lung tissue caused by asbestos), two kinds of cancer (mesothelioma and asbestos related lung cancer), and pleural plaques.
Asbestosis is a chronic, prolonged lung disease that is caused by continuous inhalation of asbestos particles. However, asbestosis is not cancerous. Asbestosis is a serious lung disease that occurs when asbestos fibers are inhaled and become lodged in the inner layers of the lungs. This asbestos disease develops over time as the asbestos fibers begin to cause inflammation in the lungs and the development of fibrosis, or scar tissue.
Mesothelioma is a cancer that attacks mesothelium and is most commonly found in the lung. Mesothelioma is rare or nonexistent in non-asbestos exposed populations but is becoming more common among asbestos-exposed individuals.
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Asbestos-related lung disease occurred at very high rates toward the middle of the 20th century, when patients who were exposed decades earlier to asbestos eventually developed disease. British asbestos workers were among the first who were observed to have lung cancer related to asbestos.
Asbestos-related lung cancers are diagnosed through a coalition of medical history, imaging technologies like x-rays, MRIs and CAT tissue sampling, scans, and biopsy. Those who are known to have been exposed to asbestos should have regular checkups for lung irregularities, as the incubation period between exposure and development of this disease can be as long as 5 decades.
Pleural plaques are well-demarcated usually bilateral areas of fibrosis present on the inner surface of the ribcage and the diaphragm. They are often partly calcified. Pleural plaques are smooth, white, raised irregular areas of fibrous collagen tissue that develop on the pleura (usually the parietal pleura) and often become calcified. They vary in size from small to large, and are usually found by chance on a chest x-ray (the calcium making them more readily seen).
Pleural plaques are distinguished from other asbestos-related diseases and conditions by their appearance. These plaques can be described as white, smooth, raised areas of fibrosis collagen tissue that are found on the inner surfaces of the ribcage, diaphragm and pleura. In addition these plaques are usually calcified and can range in size from small to large.
There is no cure for asbestos diseases, but, as severity depends on the length of exposure and amount of asbestos dust inhaled, early identification through chest x-ray can prevent further exposure and worsening of conditions. Some people with asbestos diseases may need oxygen masks to help them breathe.
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Asbestos Disease

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