Asbestos diseases is a disorder of structure or function in a human, animal, or plant, especially one that produces specific symptoms or that affects a specific location and is not simply a direct result of physical injury.


What is Asbestos diseases ?



Asbestos is a group of naturally occurring fibrous minerals which are commercially used for insulation in buildings and as an ingredient in a number of products such as roofing tiles, water supply lines, and fire blankets, as well as clutches and brake linings, gaskets, and pads for automobiles. Asbestos causes cancer and chronic respiratory diseases in humans.

All forms of asbestos (chrysotile, crocidolite, amosite, tremolite, actinolite and anthophyllite) are in use because of their extraordinary tensile strength, poor heat conduction, and relative resistance to chemical attack. Chemically, asbestos minerals are silicate compounds, meaning they contain atoms of silicon and oxygen in their molecular structure.

All forms of asbestos are carcinogenic to humans. Exposure to asbestos (including chrysotile) causes cancer of the lung, larynx, and ovaries, and also mesothelioma (a cancer of the pleural and peritoneal linings). Asbestos exposure is also responsible for other diseases such as asbestosis (fibrosis of the lungs), and plaques, thickening and effusion in the pleura.

Exposure to asbestos occurs through inhalation of fibers in air in the working environment, ambient air in the vicinity of point sources such as factories handling asbestos, or indoor air in housing and buildings containing friable asbestos materials.

According to World Health Organization estimates about 125 million people in the world are exposed to asbestos at the workplace. At least 107000 people die each year from asbestos-related lung cancer, mesothelioma and asbestosis resulting from occupational exposures. Approximately half of the deaths from occupational cancer are estimated to be caused by asbestos. In addition, it is estimated that several thousand deaths annually can be attributed to exposure to asbestos in the home.

It has also been shown that co-exposure to tobacco smoke and asbestos fibers substantially increases the risk for lung cancer and the heavier the smoking, the greater the risk.

Asbestos is still widely used in Asian countries. Asbestos deposits are found in Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Karnataka, and Rajasthan. In India, the domestic consumption of asbestos is 1.25 lakh tones annually, out of which more than a 1.0 lakh tonnes is being imported. Significant occupational exposure to asbestos occurs mainly in asbestos cement factories, asbestos textile industry and asbestos mining and milling. National Institute of Occupational Health (NIOH), Ahmedabad, has carried out environmental and epidemiological studies in cement factories, asbestos textile industry and asbestos mining and milling with the following observations-

  • The prevalence of asbestosis in four cement factories (Ahmadabad, Hyderabad, Coimbatore and Mumbai) varied from 3% to 5%.
  • In asbestos textile industry prevalence of asbestosis was 9% in workers having less than 10 years exposure, in contrast to the reported average duration of over 20 years. Exposure to asbestos fibers is quite high in these industries (216-418 fibers/ml as compare to permissible limit of 2 fibers /ml).
  • The overall prevalence of asbestosis in mining and milling units was 3% and 21% respectively. In asbestos mines at two locations, the air borne fiber levels were within permissible limits. The average fiber levels in milling units were between 45 fibers/ml -244 fibers/ml.

The burden of asbestos-related diseases is still rising, even in countries that banned the use of asbestos in the early 1990s. Because of the long latency periods attached to the asbestos related diseases, stopping the use of asbestos now will result in a decrease in the number of asbestos-related deaths only after a number of decades. There is no safe use of asbestos and no safe limits set by WHO, ILO (International labour organization).





Asbestos diseases Symptoms


  • Shortness of breath, wheezing, or hoarseness.
  • Persistence of cough gets worse over time.
  • Blood in sputum.
  • Pain or tightening in the chest.
  • Difficulty swallowing.
  • Swelling of the neck or face.
  • Loss of appetite.
  • Weight loss.
  • Fatigue and anemia.



Asbestos diseases Causes




There are six types of asbestos minerals (chrysotile, amosite, crocidolite, tremolite, anthophyllite and actinolite). All commercial forms of asbestos are carcinogenic.

Exposure to asbestos mostly occurs through inhalation of fibers primarily from contaminated air in the working environment, or from ambient air in the vicinity of point sources or indoor air in housing and buildings containing friable asbestos materials. Friable asbestos materials continue to give rise to exposure during maintenance, alteration, removal and demolition. Exposure can also occur as a consequence of natural disasters causing damage to buildings.

Asbestos can enter both in ground and surface water from natural and anthropogenic (changes in nature by people) sources. Soil can also contain asbestos through natural and anthropogenic (disposal of asbestos containing wastes in landfill) sources.

Occupational exposure -The highest levels of exposure occur during repackaging of asbestos containers, mixing with other raw materials and dry cutting of asbestos-containing products with abrasive tools. Exposure can also occur during installation and use of asbestos-containing products and maintenance of vehicles.

Exposure of the general population- Inhalation and ingestion are the primary routes of exposure to asbestos. Inhalation of asbestos fibers from outdoor air and to a lesser degree in indoor air is the primary route of exposure for the non- smoking general population (white collar workers within the asbestos industry, individuals living in the vicinity of asbestos mines). Exposure may also occur via ingestion of drinking water which has been contaminated with the asbestos.

Families of asbestos workers may be exposed via contact with fibers carried home on hair or on clothing. Asbestos related diseases have been reported in wives and children of asbestos workers, as a result of domestic exposure.

Construction activities and inadvertent exposure of the wider population from degradation of building materials (e.g. broken corrugated asbestos roof tiles) and inappropriate disposal of building waste also expose to general population to asbestos.

Elevated concentrations of asbestos fibers in ambient air were observed at busy traffic intersections from friction products in vehicles.

Factors affecting the risk of developing asbestos–related diseases-

  • Dose( how much asbestos an individual was exposed to)
  • Duration (how long an individual was exposed)
  • Size, shape, and chemical composition of asbestos fibers
  • Source of the exposure
  • Individual risk factors such as smoking and pre-existing lung disease



Asbestos diseases Diagnosis


A thorough physical examination is recommended with the following tests-

  • Lung function test shows reduced vital capacity and expiratory volume.
  • Sputum examination- Sputum shows asbestos bodies (which are asbestos fibers coated with fibrin).
  • Chest X-ray- An X-ray of chest shows a ground –glass appearance in the lower two thirds of the lung fields.
  • Ultrasonography of lungs is useful in characterizing pleural effusions and evaluating pleural thickening or masses.
  • Computed tomography of lungs.
  • Bronchoscopy.
  • Lung biopsy.




Asbestos diseases Complications



The spectrum of asbestos-related diseases includes the following:

  • Benign pleural effusion- An abnormal collection of fluid between the thin layers of tissue (pleura) lining the lung and the wall of the chest cavity.
  • Pleural plaques- calcified build up on the pleura.
  • Diffuse pleural thickening- thickening of pleural lining.
  • Rounded atelectasis- Abnormal form of lung collapse that occurs next to scarred pleural tissue.
  • Asbestosis- It is severe scarring and inflammation of lung tissue. It prevents the lungs from expanding and relaxing normally.
  • Mesothelioma- Cancer of pleura and peritoneum.
  • Lung cancer- It is most common in people who were exposed to large quantities of asbestos for a prolonged period of time.
  • Ovarian cancer- Researchers confirmed the link between asbestos exposure and ovarian cancer in the ovaries of asbestos-exposed women.
  • Laryngeal cancer




Asbestos diseases Prevention



Workers can protect themselves in work place by taking various measures;

  • Exposure by Inhalation can be prevented by use of breathing protection measures, fresh air and rest.
  • Skin exposure can be prevented by use of protective gloves, protective clothing. Remove contaminated clothes. Rinse skin with plenty of water or take shower.
  • Eyes should be protected by wearing safety goggles or eye protection in combination with breathing protection. If exposure to powder is there, first rinse with plenty of water for several minutes (remove contact lenses if easily possible), then refer for medical attention.
  • Ingestion can be prevented by avoiding eating and drinking during work. Wash hands before eating. Rinse mouth.
  • Don’t smoke
  • Take healthy diet with fresh seasonal fruits and vegetables.

Preventive measures at work place:

  • Substitution of asbestos with less harmful substances,
  • dust control measures,
  • rotation of work station for the employees,
  • good ventilation facilities,
  • periodic medical examination of employees,
  • awareness about asbestos related diseases and health education among workers
  • Encourage healthy life style among workers.

WHO has recommended following public health action;

  • recognizing that the most efficient way to eliminate asbestos-related diseases is to stop the use of all types of asbestos;
  • providing information about solutions for replacing asbestos with safer substitutes and developing economic and technological mechanisms to stimulate its replacement;
  • taking measures to prevent exposure to asbestos in place and during asbestos removal (abatement);
  • improving early diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation services for asbestos-related diseases;
  • establishing registries of people with past and/or current exposures to asbestos and organizing medical surveillance of exposed workers; and
  • providing information on the hazards associated with asbestos-containing materials and products, and by raising awareness that waste containing asbestos should be treated as hazardous waste.