Does Asbestos Cause Emphysema?

The short answer is, MOST LIKELY. Emphysema, along with other types of asbestos-related health conditions, is associated with high levels of exposure to asbestos through mining, having a family member in the industry, and/or through the use and exposure to products containing asbestos fibers.

Origins of Asbestos

Asbestos is a naturally occurring group of silicate fibers that are present in rocks and soils around the globe. These fibers are categorized according to shape and are either serpentine or amphibole. The fibers have been mined and used in a multitude of ways since antiquity. 

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Uses of Asbestos

In antiquity, asbestos was used in wicks for oil lamps, for burial shrouds, tablecloths, napkins, and so on. Many of the properties of asbestos that led to its use long ago are the same as those that led to its popularity in industrial applications beginning in the late 1800s. 

The fire-resistant properties of this natural fiber led to its application in firefighting garments, fireproofing insulation in the automotive industry, and making heat-resistant blankets and other garments. Asbestos fibers were also added as a strengthener to cement and concrete, used in roofing products, and included in insulation, tiles, and textiles. 

Until the mid-1980s, nearly every building was constructed with asbestos materials of some kind.

In short, asbestos, due to its many desirable properties, was utilized in a vast array of both commercial and residential applications until it was largely banned in the U.S. in the 1980s. It can still be found in some products, however, today, including in non-friable uses such as cement.

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If you may have been exposed to asbestos, speak with your healthcare provider about tests and screening to help detect the presence of asbestos fibers and asbestos-related diseases.

Who Could Be Exposed to Asbestos

Many individuals were exposed to asbestos during its heyday following the Industrial Revolution. Those who’ve served in the military are at an especially high risk of having been exposed, especially if they were stationed on older ships, as the insulation and floor tiles contained asbestos fibers — but also in various other capacities. Miners and those working in the manufacturing plants that produced asbestos-containing products were directly exposed to these fibers as well and even carried them home to their families.

Additionally, when working in an old building, such as renovating an older home that has asbestos-containing elements, any individuals involved are at risk of inhaling asbestos fibers still today. Asbestos does not pose a hazard if it is well-contained. However, remodels and demos commonly free fibers, making them easily ingested.

Risks of Exposure to Asbestos

The risks of exposure to asbestos are significant, including the development of lung fibrosis, emphysema, mesothelioma, lung cancer, and ovarian cancer, among many other diseases, including cancers of the larynx, pharynx, stomach, and colorectum, as well as asbestosis.

Unfortunately, illnesses resulting from asbestos exposure may not show up until decades after contact. This means, individuals who inhaled fibers years ago, before the wide-scale ban, may be just getting sick now.

Do You Qualify For Compensation?

Quickly and easily find out how you were exposed by searching W.A.R.D., the largest asbestos database on the planet.

How Does Asbestos Cause Emphysema

Asbestos is believed to cause emphysema due to how it is transported into the body. Because the fibers of asbestos are very small, the most common way that exposure leads to health risks is through inhalation. Once inhaled, these fibers make their home in the lung tissue.

The connection between fibrous lung tissue and a resulting emphysema diagnosis is not fully understood. However, there is a direct link between fibrous tissue and asbestos exposure, for sure, and this can lead to disease.

Smoking and Asbestos Exposure

Smokers with asbestos exposure are five times more likely that a smoker will develop lung cancer.

That’s why even life-long smokers can qualify for asbestos compensation (usually without a lawsuit).

Studies pertaining to asbestos-related conditions have found that, for those who smoke, the risk of developing lung cancer and other health conditions is heightened by as much as 50 to 84 times when asbestos exposure is involved. Smoking, in general, significantly impacts lung health, making it more likely that a person will be diagnosed.

Additionally, an individual could be diagnosed with COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease). COPD is a condition where the ability of the lungs to obtain adequate amounts of oxygen is compromised. This commonly occurs when emphysema and chronic bronchitis are present.

The fourth leading cause of death among Americans, COPD has been found, through scientific studies, to be correlated with past asbestos exposure. This correlation is significant, resulting in a much-shortened lifespan for those who have contracted COPD through inhaled pollutants, including asbestos. 

Conclusion on asbestos and emphysema

Although there are a variety of health risks associated with exposure to asbestos fibers, the risk of emphysema and other lung diseases are some of the most well-known consequences.

While the exact relationship between the inhalation of these fibers and an emphysema diagnosis is still being explored, the impact on human health is undeniable. Anyone who believes they’ve been exposed to asbestos, whether in the workplace or at home, and who is experiencing symptoms of emphysema, including shortness of breath or coughing up blood, should see a doctor right away. Early detection is the key to successful treatment.

AsbestosClaims.Law

For Justinian C. Lane, getting compensation for asbestos victims is personal.

Justinian’s grandparents and his father all worked with asbestos in their younger years and died from asbestos-related cancers in their later years.  

At the time of each of their deaths, no one in Justinian’s family knew that they were eligible to file an asbestos lawsuit and to seek compensation from the asbestos trusts.

Because no one in Justinian’s family knew their options, they never received any compensation for the death of their loved ones. 

If you believe that your or your family member’s injury was related to asbestos exposure, you could be entitled to significant compensation.

This is money you could use to cover the costs of asbestos removal services, pay for medical treatment, and preemptively protect your physical well-being. 

There are also asbestos trusts that offer compensation much more quickly and easily (without filing a lawsuit.)

If you’d like help with filing a claim, please get in touch by email at [email protected], or call or text us at (833) 4-ASBESTOS (427-2378) or (206) 455-9190. We’ll listen to your story and explain your options. And we never charge for anything unless you receive money in your pocket.

In addition to legal claims, veteran’s disability, social security, and employment protection like worker’s compensation, FELA, and The Jones Act for maritime workers, there are asbestos trusts that have been set up to compensate those harmed by asbestos without having to file a lawsuit.

There is no risk or cost to speak with one of our staff about your asbestos litigation. There are no fees unless you receive money.

If you have any additional questions or concerns related to asbestos, check out our website and YouTube page for videos, infographics, and answers to your questions about asbestos, including health and safety, asbestos testing, removing asbestos from your home and building, and legal information about compensation for asbestos injuries.

Introducing the largest database of asbestos information on the planet.

W.A.R.D., which stands for the Worldwide Asbestos Research Database, helps clients to narrow down when and where they may have been exposed, as well as which products may still contain asbestos. W.A.R.D. will also help indicate compensation types and how much a person may be entitled to.