If you were a structural metal craftsman prior to the 1980s you are probably aware that many of the products you manufactured were sprayed with insulation as part of the manufacturing process. What you may not realize is the insulation used in the industrial setting often was made up in large part of asbestos. Structural metal craftsmen built and repaired structures that were made of sheet metal and iron. Studies have shown that sheet metal workers have high levels of asbestos exposure. One study indicates that aproximately 70% of career sheet metal workers have some type of asbestos related health condition.

Asbestos was widely used for a variety of reasons. As a naturally occurring mineral, it was easy and inexpensive to purchase, and it had outstanding insulation abilities. In addition, asbestos is highly flame retardant, a fact that made it extremely popular in the industrial setting. While asbestos containing products were widely used in the building process, there is probably nowhere that they were more widely used than in the industrial construction process. Because of the widespread use of asbestos in insulation, and because the insulation was often sprayed onto the product, it was very easy to inhale asbestos particles during the process.

In addition to the insulation that was sprayed onto the various components that the sheet metal workers manufactured, many of the other materials used on a daily basis by the sheet metal worker contained asbestos. Paints and polishing compounds had asbestos added to their formulas to prevent rust and extend the life of the paint. Protective clothing that the sheet metal craftsmen wore often were woven from asbestos cloth. Asbestos cloth not only protected against heat and flame, but it was also extremely durable.

Asbestos was widely used in the industrial setting until 1978. At this time, public knowledge of the dangers of asbestos exposure became widely known, and the EPA halted its use in insulation, paint and other materials. Structural metal craftsmen who worked with these sheet metal and iron prior to 1978 are at risk of asbestos related diseases.

If you worked as a structural metal craftsman during the time that asbestos was still in wide use, you should consider speaking with your doctor about screening tests to check for asbestosis and mesothelioma. There are a variety of tests that your doctor can perform to test lung function and determine the level of asbestos in your body. How aggressive your doctor wants to be in this testing is determined by personal preference as well as your general health. Although mesothelioma is notoriously difficult to diagnose in the early stages, working with your doctor to develop a proactive plan increases your chances of catching either disease in the earliest stage possible.

Just because you are suffering no health affects of asbestos exposure today does not mean that you will not ever develop respiratory problems. Asbestos related diseases are slow to develop and the patient is often not diagnosed until decades after the initial asbestos exposure.

Asbestos Exposure

Exposure to asbestos can cause two severe health problems. The first, asbestosis, is a chronic inflammation of the lungs. A person suffering from asbestosis suffers from a progressively worsening shortness of breath. Asbestosis eventually ends in respiratory failure. There is no cure for asbestosis, the best treatment that doctors can provide is oxygen, which eases the symptoms of asbestosis for a while.

The other disease that people exposed to asbestos may suffer from is mesothelioma, an extremely aggressive form of cancer. Mesothelioma spreads quickly to other organs, and has often metastasized by the time the patient is diagnosed with cancer. Because the tumors that are formed by mesothelioma are very thin, and sandwiched in between the layers of the mesothelium, they are difficult to access for surgery. The treatment for mesothelioma typically involves either radiation, chemotherapy or a combination of the two to shrink the tumor, and surgery to remove as much of the tumor as possible. Doctors must also take into consideration the condition of the patient when developing a treatment protocol. Because mesothelioma is an aggressive asbestos cancer, the patient is often very weak by the time a diagnosis is made. Patients that are extremely ill from the cancer itself will not be strong enough to undergo the rigors of an aggressive treatment protocol. This combination of factors make mesothelioma one of the most deadly cancers seen.

If you worked around asbestos years ago, and are currently healthy, it is easy to think that you got lucky and are safe from illness. Unfortunately, one of the most astounding facts is the length of time between the exposure to asbestos and the time that the person develops health problems. It is not uncommon for someone to develop health problems related to asbestos exposure 20, 30 or even 50 years from the time that their exposure ended.