According to a report researched and published by EWG (Environmental Working Group) Action Fund, every year, around 12,000 to 15,000 Americans die due to asbestos exposure. Out of these, a high majority of cases belong to either lung or ovarian cancer.

Medical practitioners say asbestos-triggered diseases are completely curable when detected at the right stage.

“Asbestos-related disease is 100 percent preventable. That fact motivates me. It should motivate all of us. If we stopped using asbestos, by definition, we could stop asbestos disease.”, says Dr. Ken Takahashi (Director of the Asbestos Diseases Research Institute).

Here is a list of the five most common & severe health issues caused due to asbestos.

Ovarian Cancer:

In 2012, for the first time, IARC (International Agency for Research on Cancer) stated that exposure to asbestos causes ovarian cancer.

While some cases were linked with women whose husbands’ working in conditions affected by asbestos, many other cases highlighted the link between the use of baby powder and ovarian cancer.

The researched statements were proved accurate when several women filed talcum powder lawsuits against the giant Johnson & Johnson. As per reports, their baby talc powder had asbestos particles due to which a lot of women around the world developed ovarian cancer.

The most shocking element of the story is the accused company was aware of the facts yet it continued to supply the baby product.

Asbestosis:

It is a sort of progressive disease which grows with time, especially when left untreated. It develops in the lungs when the asbestos fiber is inhaled, making breathing difficult.

On average, more than 1,000 Americans die due to asbestosis every year. By the time the symptoms are diagnosed, it is too late to cure the disease.

And as its symptoms are quite similar to other health issues, a thorough medical check-up is always recommended. In this condition, usually, patients require oxygen tanks and pain medication to get rid of excessive pain.

Lung Cancer:

The actual signs of lung cancer are usually seen after 15 years of the first exposure to asbestos. These signs become severe and incurable if the sufferer is a smoker as well. The impact of inhaling asbestos cannot be cured completely, but yes, the effect can be minimized.

Laryngeal Cancer:

In 2006, a report by the National Institutes of Health stated that inhaling asbestos causes laryngeal cancer (also known as the voice box). Later, in 2012, the IRAC (Insecticide Resistance Action Committee) gave its nod on the connection between voice box cancer and asbestosis.

Generally, its treatment includes chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation therapy. The type of treatment depends completely on the laryngeal cancer stage.

Benign Pleural Diseases:

This is a disease type that often develops in the lining of the lungs (also known as pleural). It is mesothelioma cancer that gradually affects the pleural weakens the blood vessels.

As per a report published by the American Thoracic Society, around 1,50,000 Americans suffer from this cancerous diseases each year in the United States.

Asbestos is a cluster of fiber that can enter your body through the air which eventually makes it an unavoidable disease. Yet, it can be avoided by keeping a regular check on your body’s unusual symptoms.

Many researchers claim that the World Trade Center collapse incident is a primary reason for infusing tons of asbestos in the environment which has shown its adverse impact of millions of Americans.

And as the quality of air is getting worse, it is expected that the affected people’s number may go high in the upcoming years.

The Final Word:

Among thousands of unpredictable health issues reasons, asbestos stands as a much-talked and worried-about fiber disease type. Its symptoms are hard to judge, which eventually makes it a fatal disease.

Widely spreading in the United States, more than 12,000 people have lost their lives due to asbestos up till now. Spreading more awareness about the substance and its harmful health effects could make a notable difference in containing the situation from getting worse!