Asbestos Plant Workers – Mesothelioma Risks
Individuals who worked in occupations that manufactured asbestos products were at an increased risk of being exposed to asbestos in comparison to employees in other occupations. In addition to the incidence of exposure being much greater than that of other occupations, the amount of asbestos fibers asbestos plant workers were exposed to was considerably higher.
Studies have shown a direct correlation between the higher fiber burden to which asbestos plant workers were exposed and the incidence of asbestos-related diseases. The longer a person worked in an asbestos plant more and more fibers accumulated in their lungs. This accumulation, or "lifetime fiber burden," is directly related to the occurrence of asbestos-related diseases.
Evidence of this correlation may be derived from the way asbestos plant workers are categorized in other businesses. In the insurance industry, asbestos plant workers are considered a sub-standard risk. From the perspective of insurance companies, such workers are engaging in an activity that will lower their life expectancy. Other activities that are grouped with working in an asbestos plant as sub-standard insurance risks include skydiving, bull fighting and defusing bombs. The way in which insurance companies view the occupation is a rather stark illustration of the risks associated with working in an asbestos plant, perhaps even clearer than the pictures painted by statistics and studies.
Asbestos Exposure Levels
A study conducted jointly by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the Asbestos Work Group, found that after evaluation of "all available human data," there is no safe level for asbestos exposure. While the health risks related to high incidents of asbestos exposure are universally acknowledged, there is no lower level of exposure that is considered "safe."
When there is no safe threshold level that can be demonstrated for a carcinogen, OSHA tends to set the permissible exposure limit (PEL) level as low as technologically and economically feasible. In 1994, OSHA stated that "the practical lower limit of feasibility for measuring asbestos levels reliably" is 0.1 fiber per cubic centimeter of air on average over an eight-hour period. In essence, any amount of exposure to asbestos, particularly in an environment such as an asbestos plant, could potentially lead to disease.
Apart from the high levels of airborne particulates in asbestos plants, workers were often compromised by a lack of safety procedures and equipment. Through either ignorance or indifference, few asbestos companies provided employees with protective gear to shield them from the hazards of inhaling asbestos fibers. Ventilation was often inadequate and hygiene policies to prevent the transfer of hazardous substances from the plants to workers' homes were rarely implemented. Such lax precautions have affected asbestos plant workers and their families.
Health Risks and Precautions
The findings of another NIOSH study in a 1998 bulletin led the agency to warn asbestos textile, friction and packing plant workers about the health risks associated with their occupations. Workers in asbestos plants found that the risk of lung cancer death in the sample population was nearly double that of the general population. The study group consisted of 3,276 individuals, of whom 63 died from lung cancer.
Meanwhile, another 17 members died from mesothelioma, a form of cancer primarily caused by asbestos. Asbestosis, which is a scarring of the lung tissues, and other lung diseases led to 90 deaths in the study group, where only 17 would normally be predicted based on rates in the general population. The study also showed increased incidence of death from heart disease among asbestos plant workers, which is likely due to the fact that lung problems frequently lead to heart issues.
Resources for Asbestos Plant Workers
Those who worked in an asbestos plant were likely exposed to high levels of asbestos. This includes office workers as well as those who worked directly with asbestos. Family members may have also been exposed through the transfer of fibers from the workplace to the home. Asbestos plant workers and family members should advise their physicians of their work history and schedule regular medical examinations to monitor for asbestos-related illnesses. Some health conditions, such as mesothelioma, may not manifest for 20 or 50 years after exposure, so ongoing monitoring is important.
If you would like to learn more about asbestos exposure and how to detect mesothelioma cancer, a free informational packet can be requested by completing the form on this page.
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Last Modified Thursday, February 9th, 2012 | Disclaimer | Privacy Policy |
The information provided by The Mesothelioma Center is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
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