Invisible Danger

While asbestos provides us with many functional items, it can also cause serious health problems

It's in brake pads which help drivers avoid a crash. It's in fire protective clothing which protects firemen during their potentially dangerous work. It's used in the production of cement roof sheets which shield us against rain and sunlight. Asbestos _ a naturally occurring mineral _ is found in several parts of our daily life.

Prized for its durability and heat resistance, asbestos has been widely used in the production of roof sheets, floor tiles, wall paints, wall coatings and brake pads, among other things. Asbestos also plays an important role in the manufacturing of heat-protective clothing and many electrical appliances such as hair dryers and toasters.

While we may thank asbestos for providing us with many functional items in life, on the flip side, the mineral has also been proven to be harmful to health.

Prof Surasak Buranatrevedh from Thammasat University's Department of Community and Family Medicine, said that according to the World Health Organization (WHO), the International Labour Organization and several other international health organisations, all forms of asbestos are carcinogenic to human beings. In 2011, the Thai government even considered banning the import and the use of chrysotile, the most common form of asbestos.

"Exposure to asbestos fibres poses a serious health risk, particularly [of] cancer," said Dr Surasak, also a committee member of the Association of Occupational and Environmental Diseases of Thailand.

Studies show that exposure to asbestos increases the risk of developing mesothelioma (a form of cancer that originates in the chest lining and the abdomen), asbestosis (a lung disease that occurs from breathing in asbestos fibres), lung cancer caused by inhaling asbestos dust, and non-malignant lung fibrosis (the build-up of fibroids in the lungs).

"Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer but is closely linked to asbestos fibre exposure," the doctor noted.

After people inhale dust released from asbestos fibres, it stays in the lungs. The accumulation of dust over time may cause inflammation and scarring of the lungs, leading to serious health problems.

The severity of asbestos-related health threats depends mainly on the amount and duration of exposure, added Dr Surasak. The heavier and longer the exposure to the fibres, the greater the chance of developing health risks. He also noted that studies suggest that people are likely to suffer from asbestos-induced diseases even through they are exposed to the fibres at a very low level.

Those working in asbestos-related industries are most prone to suffering the harmful effects of the substance, especially those who spends years in clouds of asbestos dust on a regular basis.

"Cutting, sewing, tearing or even installing products that contain asbestos fibres, workers are directly exposed to particles and dust. Especially for those involved in the production process, the amount of asbestos fibres and dust is enough to cause fatal cancers," said the doctor.

People are also likely to be exposed to asbestos fibres if they stay in an area where there is construction sites or demolition work taking place. Living in close proximity to a factory that produces products containing asbestos and which has poor emission control measures is also a risk factor for asbestos-induced diseases. The WHO also estimated that approximately 125 million people worldwide are exposed to asbestos at their workplace, and more than 107,000 people die each year from asbestos-induced lung cancer, mesothelioma and asbestosis resulting from occupational exposures.

According to asbestos-induced diseases surveillance report issued by the Department of Disease Control, since 2008 there has so far been one death reported to have been caused by mesothelioma resulting from occupational exposure. Three workers have also been found to have suffered from asbestosis and 37 from non-malignant lung fibrosis. But it's estimated that there are about 500 to 1,000 cases who have sustained asbestos-induced diseases.

Diagnosing asbestos-related diseases is not easy, said Dr Surasak, because for an accurate diagnosis specialists or healthcare providers need to thoroughly check a patient based on not just a physical examination, but also the possibility of asbestos exposure, work history and his/her related health conditions.

"The problem is that we usually don't have employee records that give us details about their work history and the degree of exposure," he said.

It takes years to develop asbestos-related complaints, he added, and usually patients show no symptoms after their initial exposure.

"We are encouraging doctors to spend time with patients to get comprehensive details of their personal background and symptoms so they are able to make an accurate diagnosis," he said.

Dr Vichai Chokevivat, second deputy chair of National Health Promotion Board, suggested that one of the possible ways to protect yourself against asbestos is to make sure that objects or materials that contain asbestos are in good condition.

"If there are materials that contain asbestos in your house but they are not damaged and still in good condition, that's fine," said Dr Vichai. "But you can take extra precaution against asbestos exposure by staying away from building wrecks and construction sites [where you] may potentially induce fibre dust."

Invisible Danger - Bangkok Post