What are the Health Effects?

Where airbourne asbestos dust is breathed in, some of the small microscopic asbestos fibres can get through the body’s natural defences against dust and penetrate deep into the lungs. As asbestos fibres accumulate in the lungs, several types of disease may occur.

Asbestosis: - is a scarring of the lung tissue caused by breathing in asbestos fibre over a period of many years. This leads to a progressive loss of elasticity and lung function. It is a slowly developing disease with a latency period (time between exposure and onset of disease) of 15 to 20 years.

Mesothelioma: - is a cancer of the lining of the lungs (pleura) or more rarely of the lining of the abdominal cavity (peritoneum). Mesothelioma has a long latency period, averaging between 35 to 40 years; however this may vary between 15 and 67 years. The disease is almost always associated with asbestos exposure.

Lung Cancer: - is a malignant tumour of the bronchi of the lungs. The tumour grows through the surrounding tissue, invading and often obstructing passages.

Individuals exposed to asbestos have an increased risk of developing lung cancer which is further increased by smoking. Again the disease has a long latency period of approximately 20 years.

Diffuse Pleural Thickening: - is a non-malignant disease in which the lining of the lungs (pleura) become scarred. Pleural plaques do not normally cause impairment of lung function or associated disability.

The risk of developing an asbestos disease is related to the type of asbestos, and, the duration and level of exposure. Mesothelioma is more likely to be associated with crocidolite and amosite than with chrysotile

What should I do if I think I have been exposed to asbestos?

Recently published research suggests that single or low level exposures are very unlikely to lead to disease and the risks with such an exposure are considered “insignificant”. Disease associated with asbestos exposure occurs through breathing in asbestos fibre as dust. The chance of developing a disease is related to the amount of fibre inhaled and the duration of exposure. If you think you may have been exposed, you may wish to discuss your concerns with your doctor. At this stage a full medical examination or x-ray would not be beneficial since it takes many years for the effects of asbestos to appear.

If you have been accidentally exposed to asbestos in your place of work, as a result of a fibre release, your employers must investigate the incident and must report it to either the District Council or the Health & Safety Executive NI.

If you work with asbestos and your exposure is likely to exceed the action level, please refer to the Control of Asbestos Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2007, then your employer is required to ensure that you are under adequate medical surveillance by an Appointed Doctor. This can be arranged through EMAS the Employment Medical Advisory Service.
Contact No. 028 90 408007
e-mail: emas.hseni@detini.gov.uk.

Your employer has other duties under the Control of Asbestos Regulations (NI) 2007.

Further information can be found in Health and Safety Executive MS13 Asbestos: Medical Guidance Note.