By Faith Franz
Most of you visit this blog for Eric’s astrology posts, though you may know that Planet Waves has a focus on environmental issues as well. Eric has invited me to talk about a major environmental issue that could drastically change your future: asbestos exposure.
Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that all of us will be exposed to at some point in our lives. The fibers are so prevalent in home products and in the environment that entirely avoiding exposure is impossible. People can be exposed to asbestos in insulation, tiles, soil and literally thousands of other products.
Most people will never notice any negative consequences of the exposure. However, a handful of people develop asbestos-related diseases, such as mesothelioma, asbestosis and lung cancer. Fewer than 30 people out of every million are expected to develop mesothelioma each year. Similarly small numbers are projected for asbestosis and asbestos-related lung cancer. So what’s the secret to why some people develop asbestos-related diseases and others remain healthy? It’s not random, and it’s not fate.
A number of factors actually play a role:
• Dose of exposure – Exposure to large amounts of asbestos typically leads to a higher number of asbestos fibers in a person’s lungs. Someone with a high dose of exposure is more likely to get an asbestos-related disease than someone with a low dose of exposure. Yet, those with lower doses tend to develop mesothelioma, while those with higher doses have a tendency to develop asbestosis.
• Length of exposure – People who were exposed to asbestos for long periods of time also have a higher risk of developing the disease. Most patients with asbestos-related diseases were industrial workers who were consistently exposed to asbestos throughout their decades-long careers. People have also developed asbestos-related diseases from years of secondhand exposure, in which they inhaled the fibers from the skin or clothing of someone who worked with the fibers.
• Genetic susceptibility – Scientists have identified a number of genes in the human body that may be linked to mesothelioma. The 9p gene region and multiple tumor suppressor genes play a significant role in a person’s likelihood of developing mesothelioma.
If these factors come together in just the right way, a person may develop an asbestos-related disease. These illnesses are life-threatening and extremely difficult to treat – especially when they are diagnosed in the later stages. Once diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease, a patient will have to cope with potentially disabling symptoms for the rest of their life.
How You Can Protect your Future Health from Asbestos
You may not be able to change asbestos exposure that has occurred in the past, but you can certainly protect your health from future exposure risks. You can also take proactive steps to improve your prognosis if you have already been diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease.
If you don’t have a history of asbestos exposure: If you can’t recall any potential sources of asbestos exposure in your lifetime, you have little to worry about in terms of developing an asbestos-related disease. However, you can take steps to protect yourself from any exposure that might occur in the future.
• Avoid handling any products in your home that might contain asbestos. This could include old building materials, insulation, fireproofing or ceiling tiles.
• If you work in an industrial jobsite where asbestos is present, ask your manager about asbestos safety methods.
• Do not hike or play in natural mineral deposits where asbestos may be present.
If you know you’ve been exposed to asbestos: If you know that you have been exposed to a substantial amount of asbestos, it is a good idea to schedule regular health screenings with an asbestos-related disease specialist. Asbestos-related illnesses can take decades to develop. Even if you are not experiencing any symptoms right now, you should still be vigilant about watching for them in the future.
If you’ve already been diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease: Asbestos-related diseases are life-threatening and typically associated with a poor survival rate. If you have been diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease, start talking to specialized treatment teams about the best therapies for your condition. Look into clinical trials. Consider each therapy that is made available to you.
Each person responds differently to asbestos in the body – and each patient responds differently to treatment. Even if you’ve been exposed to asbestos, your fate hasn’t been written in stone. Stay informed and you can shape your future.
Faith Franz is a writer for the Mesothelioma Center. She combines her interests in whole-body health and medical research to educate the mesothelioma community about the newest developments in cancer care.
Thanks for this post. Back in the day, I held some pretty strange temp jobs. In 1990, I had a temp job at a boiler plant where I was mainly performing administrative tasks. Since I had a lot of free time on the job, the legal department asked me to step in and assist some them with casework. I was stunned to discover that the main responsibility of the legal group was to handle hundreds of lawsuits that were filed by former employees who were exposed to asbestos daily on the job and subsequently ended up with mesothelioma. Reading through case after case was incredibly disturbing and sad.
Most people are not aware of how much we are still surrounded by asbestos. For example, I am living right now in a house that has asbestos siding, which is quite common for homes that were constructed in the 1940s. It’s really important to pay attention to your environment and know what surrounds you on a daily basis.
Does anyone know if there’s a new wave of asbestos illnesses? I ask because I’m aware that there was a significant number of cases likely as a result of industrial activity in the 1950’s & ’60’s, but I haven’t heard of more recent clusters.
Several years ago I was on a jury for an asbestos case. The plaintiff had already died a rather nasty death from mesothelioma (he had been a turbine inspector and had done a lot of his work at shipyards). His lung x-rays were shown as part of the trial, and I can’t imagine how terrible it was for him to try to breathe and then to be unable to.
The case was interesting to me because I had no idea of the history of what was known about asbestos (as early as the 1930’s). The trial hinged on who knew what when, and who was responsible. The family had brought cases against several defendants and had settled with some.
Our case was a little piece of the whole. We actually found for the defense, a corporation, because the plaintiff’s attorney simply did not make an adequate case. It actually restored my faith in the concept of a jury trial — as much as I sympathized/empathized with the plaintiff and family, it was clear to me that there was not enough evidence to find for them in this case. Enough of my fellow jurors felt the same way, with no arm-twisting or grandstanding. The plaintiff’s attorney was pretty surprised when we delivered the verdict. I’m sure she expected a San Francisco jury to vote the other way! I was glad to know that the family had already won a verdict against the company I thought was mostly responsible — his main employer.
Thank you, Faith. Prevention (or, in this case) avoiding exposure is important, and your piece is appreciated for its contribution to our awareness of how to do that.
Thank you for this piece, Faith. I had believed/hoped that asbestos had finally beome a thing of the past. I’d be really interested to read more of your work here.