DOH informational document defining asbestos types, n.d.

NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document

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■ISKS L ho is at risk? There is also some evidence that family mem­ bers of workers heavily exposed to asbestos face an increased risk of developing mesotheli- - U Since the early 1940’s, millions of American oma and perhaps other asbestos-related dis­ workers have been exposed to asbestos dust, in­ eases, probably as a result of exposure to •r‘; cluding many of the 4.5 million men and asbestos dust brought into the home on the women who worked in shipyards during the shoes, clothing, skin, and hair of workers. peak shipbuilding years of World Wu* II.

lit Health hazards from asbestos dust have been recognized among workers exposed in ship­ building trades, asbestos mining, asbestos manufacturing, insulation work in the con­ J I

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J ow great is the risk? struction and building trades, automotive brake 1 repair, and a variety of other uades. Demoli­ Not all workers exposed to asbestos will de­ velop diseases related to their exposure. In fact, many will not suffer any ill effects. I tion workers and drywall removers also may be heavily exposed to asbestos dust. As a result of Asbestos bonded in finished products is not a Government regulations and improved work risk to health, as long as the product is not practices, current workers (those without damaged or disturbed (for example, by sawing previous exposure) can expect to face smaller or drilling) in such a way as to rdease fibers risks than those exposed in the past. into the air. Since the fibers are nearly inde­ Although it is known that the risk to workers structible, a risk exists if they are set fiee. Once increases with heavier exposure and longer the asbestos particles work their way into body exposure e, studies have found asbestos­ tissues, they tend to stay there indefinitely. related diseases in some shipyard workers Some studies have shown that 25 percent of all exposed to asbestos for only brief periods of deaths among certain workers heavily exposed time (as little as a month or two). Even workers to asbestos were caused by lung cancer. This who may not have worked directly with asbes­ compares to 4 to 5 percent of all deaths caused tos, but whose jobs were located near contami­ by lung cancer among the general population. nated areas, have developed asbestosis, meso­ These same studies showed that 7 percent of thelioma, or other cancers associated with the asbestCK-exposed workers died of asbestosis asbestos exposure. and 7 to 10 percent died of mesothelioma. Workers may not begin to show signs of asbestos-related diseases for many years fol­ lowing first exposure; For example, the period of time between flrst exposine to asbestos and the appearance of lung cancer is generally IS TO ow doos smoking affect risk? Many studies have shown that the combination years or more; a lag of 30 to 35 years is not of smoking and asbestos exposure is particu­ unusual. The lag period for development of larly hazardous. While asbestos exposure itself mesothelioma and asbestosis is even greater, can increase the risk of developing lung cancer, often as long as 40 to 45 years. asbestos and cigarette smoking together may increase lung cancer risk over the already high risk due to smoking alone. Cigarette smokers. 4 5

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