University Report: Asbestos and Cancer Risk - Health Implications

This report addresses the significant health risks associated with asbestos exposure, a major air-related carcinogen. It details the properties of asbestos, its historical use, and the subsequent ban on asbestos-containing materials due to its toxicity. The report focuses on two primary types of asbestos, Chrysotile and Amphibole, and how exposure occurs through various means, including excavation and construction. It highlights the high-risk groups, particularly those in shipbuilding and insulation industries, and the resulting diseases like mesothelioma and lung cancer, emphasizing the long latency period. The report cites international agencies classifying asbestos as a human carcinogen and outlines related health issues like asbestosis, pleural thickening, and pleural effusions. It also discusses the challenges of asbestos removal from the body and provides preventive measures such as smoking cessation, regular health check-ups, and awareness of symptoms. The report concludes by mentioning alternative materials and safety regulations, reinforcing the importance of minimizing asbestos exposure.

Running head: ASBESTOS AND CANCER RISK
ASBESTOS AND CANCER RISK
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1ASBESTOS AND CANCER RISK
Asbestos are naturally occurring group of minerals, represented as group of fibres.
Asbestos is the major air-related agent that causes cancer by damaging the lungs. In recent
years, asbestos were considered very useful insulating material because of its remarkable
property but its toxic side has led to a great threat resulting in banning of construction
material with asbestos exposure (Cancer.org, 2019). There are two major cancer-linked
asbestos namely Chrysotile and Amphibole. Asbestos fibres, exposed in the air through
excavating and dispensation of asbestos, mounting asbestos insulation and constructing any
asbestos containing product. People working in shipbuilding and insulation industry are at
high-risk of asbestos exposure as the asbestos fibres stretch at the ends of minor airway
present in lungs or enter the external lining of the lungs as well as chest wall hence, leading
to irritation of the cells present in lungs and eventually causing mesothelioma or lung cancer
(Mesothelioma Centre, 2019). Inhaled asbestos fibres might stick to the mucous in the
trachea, throat or bronchi hence increasing the risk of cancer and health concern. Workers
exposed to asbestos are at high risk of lung cancer and usually are effected after 15 years of
their first exposure. In United States, the exposure of asbestos has declined but certain expert
agency believe that it is carcinogenic to humans like (Cancer.org, 2019):
 The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classifies asbestos
“cancer-causing to humans”.
 The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classified asbestos
“identified as a human pollutant”.
 The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) classifies asbestos as “human
carcinogen”.
Asbestosis is a type of lung illness caused due to exposure of asbestos leading to fibrosis
in lungs. Other diseases include pleuritis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Symptoms include disabled breathing issue or shortness of breath and long-lasting cough. No

2ASBESTOS AND CANCER RISK
effective treatment is developed or available for asbestosis. If asbestos reaches the outer
covering of lungs (pleura) it can lead to health problems such as pleural thickening, pleural
effusions and pleural plaque making it difficult for the person to breathe (Mesothelioma
Centre, 2019). Asbestos fibres are very small and minute which is negligible from human
eye, once asbestos fibres are in human body it never get dissolved and the human body also
cannot expel it. The Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA), the national
agency accountable for health and safety regulations came up with few ideas for avoiding
asbestos exposure with an environmental tool set-up for analysis of asbestos level content in
the air (National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, 2019). Several protection
measures or steps can be taken into consideration for avoiding the exposure of asbestos:
I. Asbestos-bare labours who leave smoking can decrease the threat of lung tumour as
compared to the people who are chain smokers.
II. People working in asbestos environment should go for check-ups and test such as CT
scan, lung function test and chest X-ray to detect any asbestos related disease and
exposure level.
III. For symptoms such as shortness of breath, worsening cough with or without blood,
tightness and pain in the chest, unintended weight loss and trouble in swallowing the
person should immediately visit asbestos expert handling doctor and seek attention.
In United Nations, the manufactures have focused on removing any kind of asbestos level by
using different alternatives for asbestos such as polyurethane foam, cellulose fibres,
amorphous silica fabric and thermoset plastic flour (Mesothelioma Centre, 2019). Different
safety regulations have also established for the industries still using any level of asbestos.

3ASBESTOS AND CANCER RISK
References:
Cancer.org (2019). Asbestos and Cancer Risk. [online] Cancer.org. Available at:
https://www.cancer.org/cancer/cancer-causes/asbestos.html [Accessed 28 Feb. 2019].
Mesothelioma Centre (2019). Asbestos: An Overview of What it Is & Exposure Risks. [online]
Mesothelioma Centre - Vital Services for Cancer Patients & Families. Available at:
https://www.asbestos.com/asbestos/ [Accessed 28 Feb. 2019].
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (2019). Air Pollution. [online] National
Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. Available at:
https://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/topics/agents/air-pollution/index.cfm [Accessed 28
Feb. 2019].