Forced to know asbestos, a friend.
Asbestos or asbestos is commonly called a group metamorfois mineral fiber. Asbestos is a silicate minerals produced from mining / natural materials. Thin fiber-shaped fiber, length, and strong. The name comes from its use in light Wick; because he refractories have been used in many applications. Asbestos fibers composed of silicate minerals with different chemical composition. If inhaled, asbestos fibers settle in the lungs, causing scarring. Inhaling asbestos can also cause thickening of the pleura (the membrane lining the lungs). Asbestos was commonly encountered home insulation, vinyl floor mat, the outer layer house [siding] and also in the house layer [drywall] are widely used in building construction.
Asbestos is one example of pollution is known mineral danger. In the international world, asbestos was included in the group B3 (Hazardous and Toxic Materials). World countries have banned its use, such as the European Union, Japan, Chile, Argentina, Brazil, America, Spain, Luxembourg, Australia, Vietnam, and Thailand. For Indonesia, based on the PP. No. 74/2001, Use of Asbestos must be controlled.
The Danger?
Asbestos is no doubt that negatively affect health (based on studies of In Vitro / In Vivo and epidemiological studies). Asbestos and fiberglass, our breathing if inhaled, can cause lung cancer and therefore most of the use of asbestos has been banned in many countries. In addition to lung cancer, a disease that can be caused by Asbestos among others:
1. Asbestosis is a respiratory disease that results from inhaling asbestos fibers, where the lungs are formed extensive scarring due to asbestos fibers are trapped in the lung tissue. These events create a network around a wound. The wound is what ultimately makes the lungs are not functioning. Asbestosis latency period until established, there is very long, between 15-30 years. So be careful because the symptoms can not be detected within a short time!
2. Mesothelioma, cancer which occurs in the pleura (the outer layer of the lungs) and / or the peritoneum (outer layer of the wall Obdinal)
Causes
Inhaling asbestos fibers can cause the formation of scar tissue (fibrosis) in the lungs. Lung tissue that forms the fibrosis can not expand and deflate properly. Weighing the disease depends on the duration of exposure and the number of fibers inhaled. Asbestos exposure can be found in the mining and milling industries, construction and other industries. Exposure to asbestos workers' families can also occur from particles brought home on the clothing workers.
Symptoms
Asbestosis Symptoms appear gradually and only emerged only after the formation of scar tissue in large quantities and the lungs lose elasticity.
The first symptoms are shortness of breath, light and reduced ability to exercise. Around 15% of patients, will experience severe shortness of breath and respiratory failure.
Heavy smokers with chronic bronchitis and Asbestosis, will suffer from cough and asthma. Inhaling asbestos fibers can sometimes cause the gathering of fluid in the space between the membranes that line the lungs. Although rare, asbestos can cause tumors in the pleura or mesotelioma called on the stomach lining called the peritoneal mesotelioma.
Mesothelioma is caused by asbestos malignancy and can not be cured. Mesothelioma usually appear after exposure krokidolit, one of the 4 types of asbestos. Amosite, the other types, also cause mesothelioma. Krisotil may not cause mesothelioma, but sometimes contaminated by tremolit which can cause mesothelioma. Mesothelioma usually occurs after exposure for 30-40 years.
Lung cancer will occur in people who also smoke Asbestosis, especially those who smoke more than one pack a day.
Other symptoms that may be found:
* Cough
* Tightness in the chest
* Chest pain
* Nail abnormalities or clubbing of fingers (the fingers of the hand that resembles a drum percussion).
Diagnosis
On physical examination with a stethoscope, will ronki voice. To confirm the diagnosis, usually made following examination:
* Chest X-rays
* Tests of lung function
* CT scan of the lung.
Healing
Supportive treatment to overcome the symptoms that arise is to remove the mucus / phlegm from the lung through postural drainage procedures, chest percussion and vibration. Inhaler was given to thin the mucus. May need to be given oxygen, either through the front shield (mask) or through a plastic tube that is placed in the nostrils. Sometimes performed lung transplants. Mesothelioma fatal, chemotherapy is not much useful and tumor removal does not cure cancer.
Prevention
Asbestosis can be prevented by reducing levels of asbestos fibers and dust in the work environment. Since the industrial use of asbestos dust control is done, now who are suffering fewer Asbestosis, but mesothelioma is still happening to people who had been exposed 40 years ago
To reduce the risk of lung cancer, to the workers associated with asbestos, it is recommended to quit smoking. Meanwhile, in order to avoid the source of the disease will spread in the family, advised all workers to wash his work clothes at the factory, and replacing them with clean clothes to go back to the house. So that all work clothes no one brought home, and workers cleaned up or a shower before returning home each.
