Asbestos, a known carcinogen, can have a wide range of different effects on the body, depending upon where the fibers lodge. Asbestos-related diseases can range from nonmalignant to malignant, including asbestosis, nonmalignant lung and pleural disorders, lung cancer, mesothelioma of the pleura, peritoneum, pericardium or testicular lining, and other malignant cancers. The effects of asbestos on smokers is estimated to increase the risk of disease as much as 90 times that of non-smokers.
Asbestos fibers can accumulate in body tissue with repeated exposure. Trapped fibers can cause scarring and inflammation, which in turn can cause difficulty breathing. Over time continued inflammation can cause other problems including one or more of the following:
- COPD
- Asthma
- Chronic bronchitis
- Pneumonia
- Asbestosis (fibrotic tissue/scarring throughout the lungs), which restricts lung expansion and reduces its ability to function normally
- Pleural plaques
- Pleural thickening
- Mesothelioma
- Increased risk of lung cancer
Secondary to the diseases above, pulmonary effusion (fluid between the pleural layers) can develop. Fluid buildup compresses the lungs and reduces the ability to breathe effectively. This fluid can become infected, cause inflammation and scarring of the pleura, which in turn can cause adhesions in which the scar tissue binds the two pleural layers together with scar tissue.
Peritoneal mesothelioma can cause bowel obstruction, anemia, weight loss, blood clotting abnormalities, abdominal pain and swelling, fluid buildup in the abdominal cavity similar to that of pleural effusion, and fever.
According to the National Cancer Institute, some studies indicate an increased risk of colorectal and gastrointestinal cancers, cancer of the throat, kidney, esophagus and gallbladder, though the evidence is inconclusive.
If you have any of these asbestos-related diseases or symptoms, please contact the experienced asbestos lawyers in Baltimore, Maryland and Washington, D.C., Brown | Kiely, LLP for a free consultation.
