Asbestos - Lung Cancer and Related Risks

Asbestos is a major concern today because of the relationship it has with lung cancer and some other fatal conditions. Asbestos has been shown to be a major risk and can drastically increase the risk of lung cancer. This is especially disturbing because of the large number of commercial uses that it has been put into because if its natural properties, and the same asbestos is now causing lung cancer in many people today.

So what is Asbestos?

Asbestos is a very useful naturally occurring mineral that has been used in many commercial uses because of its asbestos and chemical resistance, along with the poor conductivity of electricity. Asbestos occurs in form of bundles of fibers, and has four forms that are used in different industries:

Chrysolite or white asbestos, Crocidolite or blue asbestos, Amosite or brown colored fibers, and Anthophyllite or gray colored fibers. Asbestos fibers are notorious for breaking into tiny particles that are swallowed or inhaled and can cause serious health problems, one of which is lung cancer.




Health Concerns With Asbestos

Asbestosis is the one of the most infamous disorders that Asbestos causes. Asbestosis is a lung disorder that causes shortness of breath, coughing and can eventually lead to permanent damage to lungs. The other in-the-news health hazard posed by asbestos is the mesothelioma cancers that it can cause. These are membrane based cancers that cover the chest, larynx, kidney, intestinal tract, abdomen and such.