Asbestosis

Asbestosis is a chronic (long-term) lung condition caused by exposure to asbestos.

Asbestos is a general name for a group of minerals made of microscopic fibres. In the past, it was widely used as a building material.

Asbestos can be very dangerous, though it doesn't present a health risk if it's left undisturbed. But if material containing asbestos is chipped, drilled, broken or allowed to deteriorate, it can release a fine dust that contains asbestos fibres.

When you breathe in this dust, the fibres enter the lungs and can damage them over time. Exposure isn't the only factor, however, as many people avoid getting asbestosis despite heavy exposure.

Asbestos use reached its peak in the 1970s and then fell during the 1980s and 1990s. If you worked in an industry that used asbestos in those years, you may have been exposed to it, and that matters if you're worried about asbestosis.

Jobs that are particularly linked with asbestos exposure include:

• insulation workers
• boilermakers
• plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters
• shipyard workers
• sheet metal workers
• plasterers
• chemical technicians
• heating, air-conditioning and refrigeration mechanics

Nowadays, you're most at risk if your job could lead you to damage asbestos in older buildings. Caretakers, electricians and demolition workers are examples.

Talk to a doctor if you think you may have been exposed to asbestos in the past and you have any of these:

• shortness of breath (at first this may only happen after physical activity, but it can eventually become a more constant problem)
• a persistent cough
• wheezing
• fatigue (extreme tiredness)
• chest pain
• clubbed (swollen) fingertips

Your doctor may start by asking about your symptoms. They may also listen to your lungs with a stethoscope. If asbestos has affected your lungs, they'll usually make a crackling noise when you breathe in.

The doctor may also:

• ask about your work history, particularly any possible exposure to asbestos
• arrange a chest X-ray

If asbestosis is suspected, you'll be referred to a specialist in lung diseases for tests to confirm any lung scarring. These may include:

• a computerised tomography (CT) scan
• lung function tests

The specialist will also consider other possible causes of lung inflammation and scarring. For example, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, hypersensitivity pneumonitis and connective tissue disease related interstitial lung disease.

Once asbestosis has developed, there is no cure. The damage to the lungs can't be reversed.

In some people, depending on the pattern of scarring seen in the lungs, a doctor may consider AntiFibrotic therapy to slow down how fast the lung condition gets worse.

Pulmonary rehabilitation may also be recommended. And there are things you can do yourself to help with your symptoms.

If you have asbestosis, your lungs are more open to infection. That's why doctors recommend you have the flu vaccine every year, to protect you against flu. You should also have the pneumococcal vaccine.

When asbestosis becomes severe, your body may not get enough oxygen. If tests show low levels of oxygen in your blood, your doctor may recommend oxygen therapy.

You can prevent asbestosis by avoiding asbestos fibres. Large amounts of asbestos are still found in many older buildings, so take precautions if you live or work in a building that may contain it.

If you think your house may contain asbestos, contact an environmental health officer at your local authority. Don't try to remove any material you suspect contains asbestos yourself.

If your job could expose you to asbestos fibres, make sure you know exactly how to reduce your risk. Don't try to remove any asbestos you come across unless you have been trained to do it safely.