Asbestos and Lung Cancer – A Deadly Connection
In constructions as well as in certain industries, asbestos was a main material used until 1989. It also occurs naturally. Because of this reason, there is not a person left who is not exposed to some extent to asbestos particles during their life.
The problems occur when an individual is over exposed to asbestos. When that happens, he or she has great vulnerability to have lung cancer proving further that asbestos and lung cancer is closely related. The dust of asbestos can easily be airborne and people inhale these particles if they are not cautious when working with them or careless due to unawareness of the close relations of the asbestos and lung cancers. Those who are living near factories that produce them or related items are also vulnerable to asbestos related cancers. The workers who are working with building constructions, boiler manufacturing, ship building etc are greatly in danger of having asbestos related lung cancers.
Since asbestos and lung cancer are closely related, it is highly essential to wear respirators while working in these factories or when living close to them. Asbestos and lung cancer makes a dangerous connection when the latter enters to the respiratory track moving to the lungs. Unlike with any other substances, lungs are unable to remove asbestos particles since these are heavier than other particles. With time, they may cause irritations in the lungs causing cancerous tumors in the lungs.
Although asbestos and lung cancer have been connected, the impact of asbestos to cause lung cancers is difficult to record. When viewing with a microscope, the lung cancer caused by heavy smoking and the one caused by asbestos are alike. Nevertheless, it is proved that asbestosis and mesothelioma occurs only when someone overexpose to asbestos. Many lung cancers develop as a result of smoking and the number of people who have lung cancers due to this reason alone is very high.
Relation of asbestos and lung cancer can sharpen when dilapidated buildings that contain asbestos products are removed. During renovations, the workers of these sites should take precautions to avoid asbestos particles from entering into their lungs. When asbestos are covered so as to restrict its particles airborne, the products are not harmful.
In America, using of asbestos for manufacturing is curtailed maximum and there are labor rules to protect workers from possible hazardous working conditions that expose them to asbestos particles. Due to this reasons, in USA, minimum connections are revealed with asbestos and lung cancer now.
But in many other countries, asbestos are still used as a main raw material. Many constructions projects use asbestos to roof their buildings. Within this backdrop, close connection of asbestos and lung cancer in these countries is daily exposed by their medical records.
Lung cancer is a terminal disease. From many connections known and unknown to have this deadly disease, linkage of the asbestos and lung cancer has been scientifically proved. Therefore, it is highly important to take precautionary actions when working with asbestos and related manufacturing sites as well as when living near the production sites.